Wednesday, September 20, 2006

A Soldier's Prayer From a Writer's Pen


I believe the scene was the day before the 54th went into battle. The former slaves "freedmen" of the 54th were gathered around in the stillness before the battle. Morgan Freeman (in the movie "Glory") begins to pray the following words while in the background the humming of the tune "O Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" is simmering:

"Tomorrow we goin' to battle.

So, Lordy, let me fight
with the rifle in one hand...
and the Good Book in the other.

That if I should die
at the muzzle of the rifle...
die on water or on land...

I may know that You,
blessed Jesus Almighty, are with me."

Men of the 54th - rest in peace.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The "Rodney King School of Theology"


The school of thought which espouses the "Can't we all just get along?" brand of theology. Coined by Christian signer turned "theo-blogian" Steve Camp during a blog-rant-reply session here.

This is the paragraph that birthed this profound piece of theologizing:

"Let's not reduce though this discussion to the Rodney King School of Theology - 'can't we all just get along?' I find this common on Christian blogs. Nice is considered more important than truth (which I am not suggesting that you or candleman affirm). There is nothing wrong with fiery debate over key issues facing us. Where are the Christian Limbaugh's and Hannity's? That in part is what the vision for this blog is--a place where vigorous debate can occur without the touchy feely sentimentality associated with many Christian blogs."

Hey, how about the LAPD School of Theology? Espousing the "beat-the-crap-out-of-you-and-stay-the-hell-up" brand of theology? Truth is, if "the man" gots a gun, if his beatdown is hard 'nuff, I'd "stay-the-hell-up" too. Hmmmmm.

Pablo - You can be all you can be . . .


"Pablo, you can be all you can be . . . in the terra cotta army." A German art student only known as "Pablo" snuck undetected into the subterranean resting place of the infamous tomb of the Chinese terra cotta warriors in Xi'an. Pablo sure looks alot like Ben Stiller. Click here for the article.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Here's What the Pope Said

ALTOETTING, Germany (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI said Tuesday that Islamic holy war was against God's nature and invited Muslims to join in a peaceful cultural dialogue.

In a speech at Regensburg University, Benedict made an unusual reference to jihad, or holy war -- a concept used by today's Islamic extremists to justify suicide bombings and other attacks.

Benedict's address was about faith and reason, and how they cannot be separated and are essential for "that genuine dialogue of cultures and religions so urgently needed today."

Citing historic Christian commentary on holy war and forced conversion, the 79-year-old pontiff quoted from a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos.

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.' "

Clearly aware of the sensitivity of the issue, Benedict added, "I quote," twice before pronouncing the phrases on Islam and described them as "brusque," while neither explicitly agreeing with nor repudiating them.

"The emperor goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable," Benedict said.

"Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul," the pope said, issuing an open invitation to dialogue among cultures.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope was not giving an interpretation of Islam as "something violent," although he said the religion contains both violent and nonviolent strains.

Benedict did not touch directly on the current controversy over Islamic extremism, although it is an issue he follows with concern. Last year in Cologne, Germany, he urged Islamic leaders to take responsibility for their communities and teach their young to abhor violence.

Last week, he told a gathering of Christian, Muslim and Jewish representatives in Italy that no one can "use the motive of religious difference as a reason or pretext for bellicose behavior toward other human beings."

Benedict will make his first visit to a Muslim country in November, when he is scheduled to travel to Turkey.

Gerlinde Axmann, a 40-year-old social worker, watched Tuesday's speech on one of the large screens set up in a square near the cathedral.

"That was a very important start to dialogue with Muslims amid the terrorist threat," she said, calling Benedict's appeal to reason "a building block toward finding a way to argue with each other without using weapons."

"I think it's very important for him to bring these things up in society," she said. "Muslims aren't going to take us seriously until we become conscious of our own values. For example, they take the pope much more seriously than others in the West."

Click here for the complete article from CNN.

Note to Self: When annoyed, in doubt, underpaid, disillusioned, blatantly ignorant, disregarding of life itself . . . JIHAD!


[Indonesian Muslim protesters hold up signs during a rally outside the Vatican embassy in Jakarta September 18, 2006. The sign on the right reads, "Let's crucify Paus (Pope)". REUTERS/Dadang Tri]

For more on Al-Quaeda's official response to Pope Benedict's call to rational discourse among different faiths, click here.

Here we go again . . . burn Hollywood, burn.

Elton John says "NO" to Marriage


Elton John says he’s glad he got hitched to long-time partner David Furnish. Just don’t call him “married.”

“I hate people saying I’m married,” John told the London Mirror. “Marriage is a heterosexual term for men and women. We’ve got a civil partnership. It’s not a religious ceremony and I didn’t want to get married. I just wanted a lifetime commitment.”

He says he expected an outpouring of hatred from the public, but it never happened. “I thought I might get the odd flour bomb but there was no negative reaction,” he said. “It was the nicest day of my life, with all the people I love most.”

Taken from Jeanette Walls MSNBC Gossip column, click here for the article.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Notable quotes from Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin

taken from The Associated Press/Canadian Press on Tuesday, September 05, 2006



A selection of quotes from television star and wildlife enthusiast Steve Irwin, who died Monday after being fatally stabbed in the chest with a stingray's barb:

"Crikey!" - his catch phrase, exclaimed repeatedly during his television show whenever something interesting happens.

"I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that."

"I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it."

"I've worked with more dangerous snakes than anyone in the world and I've never been bitten. It's a gift."

"I bled a lot. I got hit across the face. We couldn't film for seven days. I got hit, whacked, underwater, across the face. I finished the shot, got into the boat and blood started coming out." - on one particularly close shave.

"Crikey, mate. You're far safer dealing with crocodiles and western diamondback rattlesnakes than the executives and the producers and all those sharks in the big MGM building." - comparing dealing with deadly animals with show business.

"Crocodiles. I've been catching them since I was nine. No problem."

"Fear helps me from making mistakes, but I make lot of mistakes."

"It is all about perceived danger. In front of that crocodile I was in complete control. Absolute and complete control. That is my profession. I would be considered a bad parent if I didn't teach my children to be crocodile savvy because they live here, they live in crocodile territory." - On the 2004 controversy in which he was filmed holding his infant son while feeding a snapping crocodile:

"To hear people say that it was a publicity stunt, that I'm just like Michael Jackson, well, it just tears me up. It makes me sick to my stomach to be compared in that way." - On the same incident.

Rest in Peace Crocodile Hunter - you OG hard core.

Sunday, September 03, 2006