Category Archives: Soapbox

Tom Delay And Such

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So Tom Delay has been in the news lately for putting his family on staff and -gasp- paying them for it. Now while many find this "unethical" it is a common practice in Washington… and I would argue in business as well. Everyone knows some shmoe working for a fortune 500 company because his uncle was a big wig with the company. I think it's more envy than ethics that we feel in those cases (why isn't MY uncle someone important…). Small businesses often employ family members, I know I do. In fact studies have show that family business have harder working employees because they are not just employees — their family. A concept not lost to big business as they try to build "team", "group", or "family" cohesion. Anyway, I digress. The irony is that the two people pointing the finger at Delay have done more and worse… Harry Reid not only has family working for him but has sponsored legislasion that gave kickbacks to a lawfirm that employs 5 family members. Nancy Pelosi was slapped with a $21,000 fine by the Federal Election Commission for funnelling more than $100,000 in illegal contributions to Democratic candidates in late 2002 as she was vying to become Democratic leader. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

He Is Risen!

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He is risen, indeed! Happy Easter everyone!

Easter is one of my favorite holidays, but I've always felt that it didn't quite get the credit that it deserved. Throughout history, Christianity has had a constant, recognizable symbol: the cross. (Google will bring up 935,000 cross images) And this is understandable. The cross symbolizes that God was willing to sacrifice his own son to achieve reconciliation with humanity.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NIV)

This is, of course, of vital importance. Not only as a sign of God's love but against the backdrop of Jewish law and history – it demonstrates the end of sacrifices through the one perfect sacrifice.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:1-4,10 NIV)

So now that I have made quite the case for the cross as a symbol for Christianity – what am I whining about? I never felt that symbolism of the cross should be replaced, but supplemented. Supplemented with the imagery of the empty tomb. Continue reading →

Terri Schiavo — Should I Care?

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Terri Schiavo has been clogging up the airwaves lately… forcing many to ask: Should I care? What's the big deal? Well, I finally decided to investigate this whole affair and report my findings to you: the masses. The Terri Schiavo affair has been full of half-truths, mis-information, and irrelevant arguements. As always, I will attempt to claw through the clutter to get to the truth. This article is not complete but since there is a rather pressing time issue, we have pushed it out in its current state until it can be finished… Misconception: "Terri is in a vegetative state." Terri is not in a coma, nor is she completely unable to communicate. Sworn affidavidits testify to the fact that Terri can say a few words. She can also respond to people and commands with smiles and other body movements. When was the last time a cabbage smiled when you entered the room or responded to your conversation? Now granted Terri is at the level of a 6 month old child, but that's hardly a vegetable. Continue reading →

10 Commandments Reviewed By Supreme Court

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The supreme court has decided to hear cases about weither the 10 Commandments being posted in government buildings — such as the Supreme Court, itself — violates the "Establishment Clause" of the First Ammendment. Now we won't hear a ruling on this until summer, so here is a little food for thought in the interum: 1) The 10 Commandments are the foundation of the Mosaic Law (as in the law from Moses) which is the oldest law in written history. So one could certainly argue that the first law influenced in some part all laws to follow. Therefore, posting the 10 Commandments in courthouses makes sense from a law history point of view. 2) The posting of the 10 Commandments is a long American Tradition. Much like "under God" in the pledge or "In God We Trust" on our money, these postings are historical pieces of tradition in a country that was founded by people that were largely Judeo-Christian. (For more info on the influence of religion in early American documents: http://www.claytoncramer.com/UnderGod.html ) Now you may think our Country should be as slanted towards Judeo-Christian ideas as when we were founded or you may not. But you have to agree it's a little STRANGE that the Supreme Court will be deciding if it is consitutional to post the 10 Commandments in government buildings, while the said commandments are hanging on the wall behind them. Continue reading →

Iraq Election Surprising Success

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So as I troll for more and more news the only thing that can be said to sum up the election over in Iraq is SURPRISING success. It went SO WELL that event the those for it (even praying for it) are surprised. The general response was: "Uh, yeah it went… really well…" I even noticed the media tried raising the death toll by including the suicide bombers. 35 people were killed by 9 suicide bombers. Which is tradgic but its rediculous to have headlines that read 44 Die In Elections. And while any death is bad, lets put this in perspective: 8,000,000 people voted in long lines of people (often several people wide) and with guns, motars, and bombs strapped to their chests the terrorists were able to kill 35. That's 0.0004375%. In contrast, drunk drivers in the US killed 46.5 people during the same day. Another thing of note: the turnout for the election is estimated at 60%. At first glance this might not seem HUGE, but it is. It puts the Iraqi Election at historic levels for more stable democracies: WASHINGTON Jan 15, 2005 — Deep divisions over the war in Iraq and intense voter registration drives pushed the 2004 presidential election turnout to 60.7 percent, the highest level since 1968, the Center for the Study of the American Electorate said Friday. — ABC News And how many people were threatening your life at the polls this last election? OK other than P-Diddy.