The past week I’ve seen an increase in the amount of fear mongering in campaign ads and the e-mails circulating among various supporters of the candidates. Of course it’s nothing new — even Lyndon B. Johnson ran a fear mongering ad back in 1964 — but I think it does a disservice to the American people to use fear as a motivator for change. In fact, with a little creative research through the video archives, one can clearly see the inconsistency between McCain’s claim that he’s not a socialist to his record of decisions and statements that reflect this so-called socialism — being attentive to the needs of the middle class, assisting those that cannot help themselves, and considering that perhaps the wealthiest of our nation don’t need any help and can afford to kick in a little bit more in the interest of improving the quality of our nation.

Anyway, I came across that old gem from 1964 today and it gave an ironic feeling of “oh, this is nothing new” when considering the crap that we have to put up with on the TV and radio on a day-to-day basis.

Filed under: Politics
No Comments

It’s hard to believe that October has come and gone already, that election day is nearly here, and before long we’ll be talking turkey and Christmas celebrations, and making further preparations to welcome our baby into the world this April with gender in mind. Busy times ahead for sure.

(more…)

Filed under: Awareness, Family, General, Orthodoxy, Politics
1 Comment

Filed under: Awareness, Politics
No Comments

My wife received another e-mail yesterday from a friend, urging her to re-think her decision to vote for Obama with prayer and careful thought. What surprised us — okay, it didn’t surprise us — was that the phrases “pray for your vote” and “use your mind” were in the same e-mail as a positive reference to The Hannity Special, an right-wing extremist program that airs on Fox News. I do pray and I do use my mind — I draw my informational sources from nonpartisan sources like factcheck.org and not imbalanced news media like Fox or CNN.

The e-mail urged us on that Obama leans dangerously towards socialism, mongered fear that we’re headed towards the destruction of America under a democratic majority, and that we’re all going to end up with socialized medicine and have to wait eight months for a hip replacement. The substance of that e-mail can be boiled down to fear and nothing more — fear that we’re going in the “wrong direction” [odd, where have we been going the past eight years???], fear that we’re going to turn into an evil Russia-like socialist government, and that Obama is going to turn us all into Muslims and remove mandated prayer from the schools — oh wait, that’s right, you can still pray in school voluntarily, but just can’t force it on other students.

I’ve seen a lot of propaganda, and by in large YouTube has become a breeding ground for that sort of thing — have web cam and extremist views, will publish ideology and stir up the hive. So suddenly one nut job with no social skills and the ideology of a Republicanized Hitler can become famous and on everyone’s YouTube favorites and republished on nut job blogs around the globe.

Hooray for enabling freedom of speech!

Well I’ve got a few things to say myself — and rather than rewrite the wheel, er e-mail, I’ve posted the e-mail response that I sent out last night, which expresses my view as an Orthodox Christian AND as a free-thinking American and where I draw the line between those two citizenships if you will. Names are withheld to preserve their anonymity and their dignity.

(more…)

Filed under: Awareness, Christian Subculture, Politics, Spirituality
4 Comments

It’s been called to my attention that I apparently don’t blog enough *cough* Anne *cough* so I hope to remedy that today. I had a few moments over lunch and thought I would in the very least give an update as to what’s going on in our lives these days. Forgive me if I stray and get political for a moment or two.

(more…)

Filed under: Awareness, Family, General
No Comments

I used to be Republican and now swing between Moderate and Democrat — but after seeing the immature response from Minnesota Republican elected officials when their colleagues voted to override the governor’s veto, I don’t think I can go back to being a Republican.

The Republican leader of the Minnesota House said today the six Republicans who voted to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of a transportation bill have been removed from their leadership positions.
Source: MPR.org

The fact of the matter is that Minnesota’s roads, highways, bridges, and mass transportation are lacking — and if we can’t agree to fund something that fundamental to our infrastructure, then those Republicans who voted in favor of the governor’s wishes should be the ones removed of their leadership positions.

Frankly, I see this as an empty, immature, and irrational response to not getting their way. If you don’t get your way with your colleagues, punish them by stripping them of leadership. That’ll show ‘em.

This is exactly why American wants change in our political system. The inbred fighting amongst both Republicans and Democrats is OLD. We’re tired of the lobbyists running the show behind the scenes. The pork barrel spending is out of control for pet projects.

It’s time we saw more change (for the better) around here.

Filed under: Politics
6 Comments

Okay, saw my friend wezlo just post something on Dobson; and I just had to repost it here, too.

This James Dobson quote is from a Reuters Article:

“I am convinced Sen. McCain is not a conservative, and in fact, has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are … I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Later on he says:

I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. I certainly can’t vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life,” he said.

Read the full statement if you’re not prone to violent allergic reactions to ridiculous rants of Evangelicalism™.

I’ll admit that I had to look up the word “virulently” — it’s not one that I use regularly in my vocabulary. But seriously Mr. Dobson — a virulent, anti-family policy position? Come on. So that would mean affordable health care is anti-family; and keeping jobs here in the United States as opposed to shipping them off… so families can have food on the table. And what of the war in Iraq? Are we going to continue to sacrifice family members for a poorly-justified war, a war based on false pretenses?

No, James Dobson, last election, George W. Bush was the worst choice in our history for a president. Look at where his brilliant, “Christian” leadership has led us — into a multi-trillion dollar deficit, a war he once declared “Mission Accomplished”, a crisis with the housing and lending industry, an economy sliding towards a recession, a much higher unemployment rate, a weak dollar, and a failing school system. Oh and while we’re at it, much of the rest of the world is on pins and needles, not sure how to relate to us as a nation because our leader is a moron and doesn’t play well with the rest of the kids in the sandbox — always having to have his own way. No, James Dobson, the worst option for a president was George W. Bush, by far the most incompetent president I have seen in my lifetime.

In a way, this pertains to my journey towards Orthodoxy and away from Evangelicalism™ and protestantism in general. It’s his severe overreactions to the events in our culture and the political realm, that causes me to wonder about the substance of his faith. Is his job to make America an Evangelical nation or to serve Christ? I think the former.

James Dobson, stop sticking your thumb in the rest of the nation’s eyes — those who don’t think like you do. We don’t care what you think or what you have to say anymore. Your virulent theology is poisoning the minds of innocent believers throughout the United States. Make it stop.

Filed under: Christian Subculture, Politics
No Comments

I’m keeping this brief, but it was remarkable to see the turnout for the DFL caucus in our senate district 39A. As we made our way down highway 52, the traffic was backed up a quarter mile on the highway alone… and was backed up all the way to Simley High School on 80th Street in Inver Grove Heights.

With hundreds and hundreds of cars, filling the parking lots, area streets, and still backed up to the highway, there was a remarkable feeling in the air — like people wanted to see change.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the nation decides — Minnesota DFL’ers have spoken and Barack Obama is their man.

Filed under: Politics
No Comments

Get out and vote at the primaries today. You don’t need to be registered to vote, it takes just five minutes of your time, and starts tonight at 6:30pm. Minnesota residents, to find your caucus location, visit caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us.

Filed under: Politics
No Comments

As mentioned in a previous post, I am taking the first steps towards becoming a member of the Orthodox Christian Church; a completely departure from my past expressions of faith which have included Lutheranism (ELCA and independent Lutheran “Renewal”), “Word Faith” brand of non-denominationalism, baptist, and your run-of-the-mill non-denominational charismatic evangelical church.

Well apparently I’m not the only one that is making this journey to the roots of our faith. My friend Jamison is going Roman Catholic, and two others that I know (through Jamison) are also exploring or becoming members of the Orthodox Church. So instead of just blogging about my Orthodox experience here, we’re going to do it in a community/forum style over at The Hitchhiker’s Guide. The Hitchhiker’s Guide used to be a webzine on life and Christian spirituality that Jamison and me used to run years ago.

So we’ve dusted off hitchhikersguide.org and it has a new purpose now. If you’re interested in Orthodoxy or Roman Catholicism, I’d encourage you to check it out and follow our own respective journeys along the way.

Filed under: Orthodoxy, Spirituality, Websites
No Comments