Friday, December 15, 2006
Declaration of Independence
Today I actually read the Declaration of Independence I read not the copy of the document but the real thing. It was amazing to me that we can still read it. The words are faint but the idea is not.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Equality Under the Law
Let me just say I am not arguing for one religion to be over another. Or that religious practices or religion or lack of religion is superior inferior or whatever. What I am arguing for is that all beliefs regardless if they are religious irreligious secular communist whatever should be allowed to petition government according to the dictates of his or her conscience.
That arguing that a persons religious beliefs do not have a equal place in society among other beliefs is essentially censorship.
I believe that all beliefs are welcome into the political process and then our elected officials then we have laws. All laws whether you realize it or not impose beliefs imposes morality. It is wrong to not pay your taxes to kill steal have sex with minors that is the morality that the government imposes on us.
Its interesting to note that the countries that have enforced public secularism found all over Europe and especially in France have the most problems with religious extremists. This French ideals of Liberté, égalité, fraternité That you can believe what ever you want as long its secular. This extreme idea is essentially what the religious extremist believes if everyone submits to Islam (which means to submit) then we could leave in peace. There are millions of Muslims in the United States they strongly disagree with the policies of the Bush administration whom many Muslim leaders endorsed in 2000. But the major difference is that we are not growing are own terrorists. Muslims in America are similar to other people of faith in the United States.
In India there are having problems with religious nationalism the BJP party is not seperating religious belief from religious practices. They are not having religious pluralism of all ideas or a pluralistic society but they are equating to be Indian is to be Hindu and that if you are not Hindu you are not Indian all others are outsiders.
Many Americans view America as a Christian nation its not. Its not a Christian nation or a secular nation its it s a nation where all beliefs are welcome into the political process. It is equality under the law. Its a nation that represents the beliefs of its people and it does not matter whether those beliefs come from religion or the Greeks and Romans L Ron Hubbard. The source of the idea is irrelevant it is the content of the idea that matters. The laws that this country makes are "imposed" on every one.
Conservatives and Liberals have different beliefs obviously but they respect their ideas have a right to be in the political process. I have different religious and ideological beliefs than others which are different than others in America but I respect their right to be in the political process. They should respect my rights whatever the source to be in the political process.
Church's stance on Politics
Issues Resources
Political Neutrality
Question:
Does the Church support or endorse political parties or candidates?
Answer:
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from time to time issues letters to its members encouraging them to participate in the political process. The letters also emphasize the Church’s institutional neutrality in political party matters.
The following letter was issued by the First Presidency on 21 July 2004 to Church leaders in the United States:
"In this election year, we urge Church members to register to vote, to study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully, and then vote for those they believe will most nearly carry out their ideas of good government. Latter-day Saints are under special obligation to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are ‘wise,’ ‘good,’ and ‘honest,’ (see Doctrine and Covenants 98:10).
"While affirming its constitutional right of expression on political and social issues, the Church reaffirms its long-standing policy of neutrality regarding political parties, political platforms, and candidates for political office. Church facilities, directories, and mailing lists are not to be used for political purposes.
"Candidates for public office should not imply that their candidacy is endorsed by the Church or its leaders, and Church leaders and members should avoid statements or conduct that may be interpreted as Church endorsement of any political party, political platform, or candidate. In addition, members who hold public office should not give the impression they represent the Church as they work for solutions to social problems."
Political Neutrality
Question:
Does the Church support or endorse political parties or candidates?
Answer:
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from time to time issues letters to its members encouraging them to participate in the political process. The letters also emphasize the Church’s institutional neutrality in political party matters.
The following letter was issued by the First Presidency on 21 July 2004 to Church leaders in the United States:
"In this election year, we urge Church members to register to vote, to study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully, and then vote for those they believe will most nearly carry out their ideas of good government. Latter-day Saints are under special obligation to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are ‘wise,’ ‘good,’ and ‘honest,’ (see Doctrine and Covenants 98:10).
"While affirming its constitutional right of expression on political and social issues, the Church reaffirms its long-standing policy of neutrality regarding political parties, political platforms, and candidates for political office. Church facilities, directories, and mailing lists are not to be used for political purposes.
"Candidates for public office should not imply that their candidacy is endorsed by the Church or its leaders, and Church leaders and members should avoid statements or conduct that may be interpreted as Church endorsement of any political party, political platform, or candidate. In addition, members who hold public office should not give the impression they represent the Church as they work for solutions to social problems."
Friday, December 8, 2006
Barney's Holiday Extravaganza
A few months ago I went on a White House tour and I saw the real star of the White House Barney the Presidents Dog. As a dog he has a pretty good life. He has his own web page, his own blog and his own Christmas Special "Barney's Holiday Extravaganza." Which makes me think that I need my own Christmas Special.
The extravaganza has an all star cast of such entertainment heavy weights such as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove Education Secretary Margaret Spellings Office of Management and Budget director Rob Portman and Press Secretary Tony Snow. In addition to having the man known through out the world not by a first name but by one letter W, El Queso Grande himself President George W. Bush. My only suprise is that Donald Rumsfeld is not in the video, he is so good with one liners and he has a lot of time on his hands.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Open Source Spying
Just read a good article on spying and intelligence. The cold war was about to lumbering bureaucracies. The bureaucracies moved slow and mutually assured destruction kept each country from destroying each other. The last line of the article is a great one “Fifteen years ago we were fighting the Soviet Union,” he said. “Who knew it would be replicated today in the intelligence community?”
In the information age our enemies do not communicate through hierarchies like the Soviet Union. They communicate, share and plan attacks using little or capital. One terrorist or 20 terrorists thinking alone was not enough to outsmart the the thousands of security professionals working to protect the United States. A Million terrorists planning, sharing, and communicating information and were able to outsmart security defenses. To terrorize the United States an individual doesn't need a billion dollars to build a nuclear weapon they just need to utilize the wisdom of crowds.
In the information age our enemies do not communicate through hierarchies like the Soviet Union. They communicate, share and plan attacks using little or capital. One terrorist or 20 terrorists thinking alone was not enough to outsmart the the thousands of security professionals working to protect the United States. A Million terrorists planning, sharing, and communicating information and were able to outsmart security defenses. To terrorize the United States an individual doesn't need a billion dollars to build a nuclear weapon they just need to utilize the wisdom of crowds.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Capitol Hill Party Crasher
Well tonight I did what most college students do.. I crashed a party. I didn't do it intentionally and I didn't even know there was a party going on. But tonight I crashed the party of one of the most powerful men in America or the world for that matter the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He throws the original house party in the original home of the House of Representatives.
The original home of the House of Representatives now called Statuary Hall is magical to me, its hallowed ground. This room witnessed some of the greatest events in America. Its the place where Abraham Lincoln spoke while he was a member of Congress. Now picture in your mind a buffet line where Lincoln's desk used to be.
People eating and drinking in one of the most historical rooms in the US. Few ever get that opportunity. There were security guards at the front of the Hall but because I had my Capitol Hill id they let me through.
There were around 100-200 people in the room. I saw Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert Rep. Tom Osborne and a lot of little children running around.
The reason for the party is that today they lit the Capitol Hill Christmas tree. Its a really beautiful tree from Washington state with blue and red lights. But it seems like there are more blue lights than red lights this year.
The original home of the House of Representatives now called Statuary Hall is magical to me, its hallowed ground. This room witnessed some of the greatest events in America. Its the place where Abraham Lincoln spoke while he was a member of Congress. Now picture in your mind a buffet line where Lincoln's desk used to be.
People eating and drinking in one of the most historical rooms in the US. Few ever get that opportunity. There were security guards at the front of the Hall but because I had my Capitol Hill id they let me through.
There were around 100-200 people in the room. I saw Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert Rep. Tom Osborne and a lot of little children running around.
The reason for the party is that today they lit the Capitol Hill Christmas tree. Its a really beautiful tree from Washington state with blue and red lights. But it seems like there are more blue lights than red lights this year.
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