Sandy Hook school massacre: NRA's gun 'rights' are a fabrication of modern times (via The Christian Science Monitor) Remember that elementary-school exercise, “Opinion or True/False”? The point was to differentiate claims that were debatable from those that weren’t. So in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., let’s … [Read more...] about Sandy Hook School Massacre: NRA’s Gun ‘Rights’ are a Fabrication of Modern Times (Guest Voice)
Newtown Shooting (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Newtown Shooting (Cartoon)
Daniel Inouye:Gentleman, Soldier, Statesman, and Hawaiian For the Ages
Few would argue that the terms legend and “end of an era” are widely overused but for Daniel Inouye, I think I could get unanimous consent that they fit him like a glove. Inouye, the most larger than life Hawaiian there ever was, a World War II hero who was among the most gentle, scrupulous souls ever to grace the floor of U.S. Senate, died last night at 88. He had served … [Read more...] about Daniel Inouye:Gentleman, Soldier, Statesman, and Hawaiian For the Ages
Shooting Fallout? Michigan Gov. Snyder Vetoes Concealed Gun Bill?
More fallout from the Sandy Hook shootings? Is this the beginning of a trend -- or something that will (as in the other cases of mass gun murders) vanish? The bill would have let concealed gun owners with additional permits carry their weapons in places where it was previously illegal to carry them such as places of worship, bars, schools, and stadiums. In his veto … [Read more...] about Shooting Fallout? Michigan Gov. Snyder Vetoes Concealed Gun Bill?
Obama Backs Bill to Ban Assault Weapons: White House
Obama backs bill to ban assault weapons: White House (via AFP) US President Barack Obama backs a new bill to revive an assault weapons ban and other new gun laws, the White House said Tuesday, fleshing out his nascent response to a shocking school massacre. Obama also called an ardently pro-gun senator who has shifted his position on firearms laws since … [Read more...] about Obama Backs Bill to Ban Assault Weapons: White House
A Military Christmas
Soldiers pray during a candlelight prayer service in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, in celebration of Christmas 2010. Our military spend their holidays wherever their country needs them -- it could be among family at a comfortable 'stateside' base or post or it could be dodging bullets and IEDs at some remote outpost in some forsaken place anywhere in the world. One thing … [Read more...] about A Military Christmas
The Evil God Allows
The Evil God Allows by Doug Bursch Abel's offering was acceptable to God, it pleased God. Cain's offering was not acceptable, it did not please God. Abel gave God his best, Cain gave something less. God told Cain to do that which is acceptable, "Do good, for evil is crouching in the corner, ready to devour you." But Cain killed Abel, Abel with his … [Read more...] about The Evil God Allows
No Guns This Christmas
At our home, the lights of the Christmas tree sparkle in the family room. Presents have begun to gather beneath its branches. The scent of holiday candles fills the room. Outside where the lights are strung from the eaves and wrapped around the railing of the front porch, it has chosen to snow today. A neighbor and her children, ages 5 and 6, or so, have built a snowman. I … [Read more...] about No Guns This Christmas
NRA and Gun Debate (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about NRA and Gun Debate (Cartoon)
Poll: 69% Disapprove of GOP on Fiscal Cliff
You sometimes have to ask yourself: is the GOP on a political suicide mission, nudged along by conservative radio talk show hosts, Fox News and some conservative pundits. The latest poll sounds as if on the issue of the fiscal cliff that's precisely what's going on. To wit: Nearly seven in 10 Americans disapprove of how congressional Republicans are handling the fiscal … [Read more...] about Poll: 69% Disapprove of GOP on Fiscal Cliff
Obama Asks Cabinet Members for Proposals to Curb Gun Violence
Can it be different this time? Could this be the moment when in the face of yet ANOTHER incident -- again, shocking then the last -- when a nut with a gun obliterates human life with the pull of a trigger there are actually legislative actions taken by politicians who are more focused on the deaths than whether the gun lobby will seek to defeat them? This sounds like a … [Read more...] about Obama Asks Cabinet Members for Proposals to Curb Gun Violence
Britain’s Police Are Still Unarmed: Why?
And, despite the dangers, overwhelmingly wish to remain so. This is interesting to consider. George Bernard Shaw once called the US and Great Britain two countries divided by a common language. Despite the intense interactions between us, to this day the cultures of the two most prominent English-speaking lands are very different. In coming days, there will be debates … [Read more...] about Britain’s Police Are Still Unarmed: Why?
Where Was God Last Friday?
One pastor's perspective here. Also: What people need from Christians most in the wake of the Newtown tragedy. (By the way, it's authenticity.) Warning: If you don't want a Christian's faith perspective on the tragedy in Newtown, please don't read either of the linked posts. Out of respect for those of different perspectives, I haven't crossposted the pieces on The … [Read more...] about Where Was God Last Friday?
Consoler-in-Chief Aims to Do More. Can He?
“In the coming weeks,” says the President at the Newtown Memorial, “I will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens--from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators--in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. “Because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine. Are we really … [Read more...] about Consoler-in-Chief Aims to Do More. Can He?
Report Details Extensive Walmart Bribery in Mexico
Report details extensive Walmart bribery in Mexico (via AFP) Retail giant Walmart aggressively bribed Mexican officials to get the necessary permits to open more than a dozen supermarkets across the country, the New York Times reported Tuesday. The newspaper said its own investigation had identified 19 store sites that were the target of bribery, and … [Read more...] about Report Details Extensive Walmart Bribery in Mexico
How Government Encourages Corruption by Financial Institutions
The recent fines of HSBC for money laundering follow a government pattern of merely slapping the major financial institutions on the wrist for corrupt behavior, actions which encourage further corruption. HSBC forfeited $1.25 billion as part of the agreement and paid an extra $665 million in fines. This penalty was given for the bank’s laundering of billions of dollars of drug … [Read more...] about How Government Encourages Corruption by Financial Institutions
Signs of Evolving Gun Debate after School Tragedy
Signs of evolving US gun debate after school tragedy (via AFP) New signs emerged of an evolving US gun law debate, with several top lawmakers appearing more open to stiffening controls on firearms after the Connecticut school massacre. Rising demands for stricter gun control laws, in a nation where bearing arms is a constitutional right, came a day after … [Read more...] about Signs of Evolving Gun Debate after School Tragedy
Sanitizing the Gore for Our … Protection?
[Warning: Graphic animal photo below. May be disquieting to some readers.] We have slowly inured ourselves to unspeakable horror. And now it goes down as smooth as that latté frappuccino on the morning commute. It started out as a reasonable thing -- as all such things do. But something happened along the way and we fell prey to that most devastating and commonplace … [Read more...] about Sanitizing the Gore for Our … Protection?
Is This Any Way to Treat a Marine Double-Amputee Afghanistan War Veteran? (Updated)
UPDATE: A Delta Airlines official conceded Friday that “we failed” Marine Cpl. Christian Brown, the double amputee prevented by a flight crew from taking a first-class seat offered by strangers after he was clumsily wheeled down the length of the plane to the last row in coach. Read more here === Original Post: Exactly one year ago, Marine Lance Cpl. … [Read more...] about Is This Any Way to Treat a Marine Double-Amputee Afghanistan War Veteran? (Updated)
Senator Michael Dukakis?
Having voted for Michael Dukakis back when he ran for President in 1992, I think it will be kind of cool if he becomes a Senator, which looks like it might just happen. Although Senator Kerry (whom I don't much like, but whatever) hasn't even officially been offered the job or accepted, I view this talk as indicative that it's probably going to happen, and I doubt there'll … [Read more...] about Senator Michael Dukakis?