Nicholsclan.com : a dimension of mind...

State of Disunion

So al-Qaeda'a bin Laden and al-Zawahri have both released videos essentially taunting Bush and the U.S. just prior to the State of the Union address. Coincidence? Doubtful. As most of the press is saying, al-Qaeda is pretty savvy about the timing of their messages, and these two are no exception. But to what end? What does al-Qaeda hope to accomplish with their messages? To my knowledge, the press hasn't provided much analysis of that.

My take is that these messages are nothing short of an endorsement for the Bush administration. After all, it's no secret that al-Qaeda has been the unabashed raison d'etre for Bush. His entire rationale for nearly every action taken is 9-11 and terrorism. al-Qaeda is "lurking", and he is the minister of fear. The recent videos will doubtless play prominently in the upcoming State of the Union. Bush will use the videos to remind us all that we are still at war and in danger, and that his way is the only way to safety.

But why would al-Qaeda wish to endorse Bush? Let's face it. He's been the best thing that ever happened to them. He put al-Qaeda on the map and made bin Laden and al-Zawahri household names. He created the greatest recruiting environment and low-investment target practice range the terrorists ever could have asked for in Iraq. His push for democracy in the Middle East has ushered in the rise to power of religious sects in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and the rise of Hamas in Palestine.

Muslim extremism has flourished under Bush. And Bush has flourished with their rise as well. This is nothing short of a symbiotic relationship. And I think they both realize that while they are mortal enemies, that cannot survive without each other.

It is more than a little ironic that al-Qaeda is coming to Bush's rescue and trying to prop up popular support for his policies to wipe them out.

Poppin' Pills

My little one was pretty congested this morning and it didn't seem as if it was going to loosen up much. I told him if he could swallow a pill that I could give him something that would let him breathe all day. He said that he still had never tried that, but was game. Unfortunately, it was one of the larger capsule shaped things so I thought that might make it harder.

So I gave him instructions and walked him through it, then down it went. First attempt. This, from the kid that gags on potatoes. Maybe I should have him swallow potatoes whole?

Bump & Grind

It was a good day in the shop today.

It all started because the cub scouts have a "raingutter regatta" coming up. They all need to build small sailboats and huff and puff them down a race course. Whichever dad's kid puffs his boat true and quickest, wins.

But it's not just about the boat. The boats are displayed at the event, and with the keel and rudder under them they need a stand to look their best. So the boys and I spent today designing and building parts so our den's boys could build some cool industrial looking metal boat stands next week.

It was cool as both boys were engaged in the process. They learned to cut, bend, and grind metal. They learned how to use new tools, and they seemed to really enjoy it.

No fingers were lost in the process, but Douq did get a head lump from standing up under a door. He took it well. However, I am blaming the whack on the head for him calling the bench grinder the "wheel thingy mcbob".

So I guess there's still work to do...

Can You Hear Me Now?

There's a couple of things I don't understand about the White House wire tap scandal/policy. There's been a strong defense offered by the administration regarding how they are trying to protect us from terrorists. That's not a surprising spin from the group that has based most of its reign on 9/11. It's also a reasonable claim, to a point. At the speed of the world today, burdensome bureaucratic processes are only suitable for running large corporations (but that's a different story). But the establishment of the FISA court provides for the approval of wire taps in under 45 minutes if necessary. There are even provisions to retroactively file with the court after the fact. Yet they want us to believe this process is too cumbersome. Could we really be short of people in the government capable of filing forms?? There hasn't really been any useful attempt to explain why this process is such a problem.

And another thing, they are claiming repeatedly that if this eavesdropping capability existed pre-9/11, that the attack might have been prevented. These are the people that ignored a White House briefing titled "Bin Laden Determined to Attack within the U.S." because it wasn't specific. Do we think they're really able to piece together plans from thousands of veiled conversations??

And one last point, ultimately they are asking us to trust them that are only spying on the bad people. Yet not only is history littered with examples of good people who took well intentioned eavesdropping to the point of persecuting innocent citizens, but this administration in particular has a history of twisting the truth and being flat wrong. Have they earned that trust?

No one is asking that they publish a list of who they are listening to on the web. Just let another branch of government in on the secret so that the checks and balances which form the core of our democratic system can work as they should.

That doesn't sound so very un-American, does it?

Is Ignorance Really Bliss?

If ignorance is really bliss, then today's guest blogger is one of the truly happiest people on Earth. Avril Blackwood of Greece, NY contributed the following letter to the editor of the local paper.

Liberate U.S. from Christianity

Let's adhere to the statement "separate church and state."

Liberate us from all aspects of Christian principles derived from the Christian resource, the Bible.

No more Christmas, a Christian holiday.

Truth is a Christian principle. Let us be free to lie.

Not to steal is a Christian principle. Free those convicted of stealing.

Not to murder is a Christian principle. Free those imprisoned for murder.

Helping others is a Christian principle. No more donations to help the less fortunate.

Did you know that to not offend someone is a Christian principle? Offend!

Expose the many hidden Christian principles within our society and be rid of them.

No more Golden Rule, trust, love, faithfulness, etc. These are all Christian principles.

Wake up, America.

Separate church and state?

AVRIL BLACKWOOD
GREECE

It would be easy to dismiss Avril's tongue-in-cheek point of view as the well intentioned rantings of a singular ill-informed soul, but unfortunately Avril is not alone. The most recent evidence being that this newspaper does not typically publish rantings from fringe individuals or points of view they do not believe will at least resonate with a good part of their readership. More historically, this is the logic the Christian right has been using to insert Christianity into government and other secular institutions.

The logical fallacy in Avril's viewpoint is that rejection of Christianity is the rejection of everything Christians believe. If you're not with us, then you must be against us. While this sort of rhetoric is useful in delineating "us" vs. "them" when you're rallying your people for war, it is still clearly lunacy. To dwell on just one of the points above, Avril is saying that to reject Christianity is to allow murder to be permissible. Yet, despite two-thirds of the world being non-Christian, murder is pretty much universally frowned upon. Gee, why would that be?

Obviously, the point is that Avril's so-called "Christian principles" are also Buddhist principles, Muslim principles, Jewish principles, Secular Humanist principles, and pretty much principles held by good people everywhere regardless of their religion or lack thereof. The vast vast majority of non-Christians do not reject the message of Jesus, they only reject his divinity. Curiously, so did many Christians until around 300 AD when the Council of Nicea declared once and for all that Jesus was one in being with the Father, that Jesus was God.

Ironically, opinions like Avril's stem largely from the separation of church and state in this country. U.S. Christians in are largely ignorant of other religions in the world, or even in their neighborhood. Schools teach almost nothing about the history of religion or of comparative religions. And churches are clearly not the place to learn about other religions. This ignorance, coupled with the natural tribalism of humans results in a fear and a casting out of non-Christians.

Time and again history has shown that people and cultures are more similar than different. Once people gain knowledge and understanding beyond the stereotypes, they learn to accept and befriend those who started as "others". This attitude of cultural assimilation has helped the U.S. to increasingly accept African Americans, gay people, etc. Diversity concepts are taught and even enforced in schools, government, and business. Is it so very hard to extend those Learn and Let Live principles to religion?

Ignorance may be bliss, but it's no excuse.

Not So Carrie'd Away

Guest bloggerette Kim responds to yesterday's post with the following.

I'm not sure I've ever been able to say this to you before, but maybe (just maybe) you are actually taking something too literally. Stating that "Jesus Take the Wheel", could mean someone completely gives up and does nothing on their own is taking it a bit too far. Taking the wheel of the car doesn't give the person full control... there are still gas and break pedals that need working. You can't drive using one and not the other, can you?

So... for those that believe in the real meaning of the song... Jesus taking the wheel simply means they are asking for Him to guide them and show them the way. Almost anyone that gives credence to that in their life, knows they still have a lot of work to do on their own, but are clearly just looking for guidance. And yes... there are extremists in everything, but I don't think she (or whomever wrote the song for her) were going for that particular audience.

I do agree with your assessment of her though... I can hear and see her type of music any time I turn on a radio or TV station. But... I like the song. It doesn't disgust me. Then again, I'm hoping Jesus has a firm hand on my "wheel". He's not such a bad one to give up SOME control to.

We may need to agree to disagree on this one. Although I will admit that perhaps I'm being too literal. However, in an icy spin, the gas and brake are pretty useless, and most usually dangerous. The wheel is 95% of the control. So to my mind, she gave up completely. But the beauty of art is that it's subject to interpretation. Your mileage may vary.

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

At first blush my reaction to this article was that trying to stop an elective course covering intelligent design, creationism, and evolution as a philosophy course was ill-advised. After all, it gets it out of science class and into a philosophy class. That makes good sense. We shouldn't be trying to stop that sort of thing.

However, on closer examination, the course is hardly structured to be an objective a-religious survey of the cultural impact of creation mythologies. The course is centered on 24 videos, 23 of which were produced by religious organizations. There are 2 advertised evolution experts who will speak. Unfortunately, one has refused to come and the other has been dead for years.

In theory, having courses surveying religion and its impact on culture should be mandatory. In practice, they are impossibly hard to implement. The people who tend to feel these courses are important tend to slant them hard toward their own theology. The people who could deliver them objectively, largely don't care to. And if they did, they would invoke the wrath of the religious right anyway.

Carrie'd Away

American Idol heartthrob Carrie Underwood is inexplicably burning up the Country Music charts despite being almost indistinguishable from a bevy of blonde white-bread Faith wannabees currently recording. None of which has anything to do with my point.

Her current hit is "Jesus Take the Wheel", and many are saying what a great message it contains. Personally, the song disgusts me, or maybe I just don't get it. The song starts with her driving, going into an icy spin, and then throwing her hands up and letting Jesus take the wheel. At the literal level, I'm inclined to note that it's this sort of behavior that gives women drivers a bad reputation. However, I grant that the song is really an allegory for her life. But that really doesn't make me feel better.

The message is still to just give up and let Jesus do what he will to you. I'm unaware of any incarnation of Christianity, or any other religion, which advocates capitulation. God helps those who help themselves, right? This theme is pervasive. As I understand it, God is looking for a few good men, not a bunch of incapable dependents. What would Jesus do? Probably not just throw his hands up and quit when the going gets tough.

A Woman's Place

There has been an almost unbelievable amount of press lately covering the debate over a woman's place. Does she belong at work or does she belong at home? And I can't help but think that the very question is stupid. The debate seems to center on whether being a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) is a valid and fulfilling life's mission. But if we get down to it, the real question is how to determine if any function is a valid reason to get up in the morning. In looking at the debate, there's really nothing mom-unique about it.

Some say that being a SAHM is a cake-walk and that these women are really living a life of leisure. People say the same thing about teachers who work 7 hours per day for 180 days per year. Is that true? In some cases it is. It all depends on how you approach the job. I know an awful lot of people in corporate life who pretty much cruise through the day as well. In reality, getting fulfillment and satisfaction from any job has mostly to do with your suitability and motivation related to that job. Some people are fulfilled picking up trash every day (and I'm glad those people exist), others are unfulfilled as brain surgeons. Should women be SAHMs? Some of them, and some guys too. Should all of them? Hell no.

And is there job security risk that women take when they opt for being a SAHM? Some of the arguments seem to be that otherwise successful SAHMs sometimes find themselves divorced with no means to support themselves. This is effectively the same as them being unemployed. In a world where it is no longer reasonable to expect that a company will employ you for life, why is it any worse to risk being unexpectedly "fired" by a spouse? The severance pay is called alimony, but the model is similar. Anyone and everyone (including SAHMs) need to assure that they are employable should their current gig come to an end. That's just prudent planning. So I hardly see this as more risky than having a job outside the home.

So I'll end where I started. This is a stupid question. People who have the opportunity and desire to stay home and focus on their families deserve our respect as long as they are adding value to the people they are supporting and are finding a level of fulfillment in the task. This is the same criteria I would use for deciding if I respected the job anyone was doing at anything.

Ghandi - Part Deux

Refreshed after bonding with the homeless last year, Number 1 Son is off next weekend to empathize with the hungry. His church youth group is going on a group hunger strike where they will need to get by from after dinner on Friday all the way to dinnertime on Saturday fueled by only high-fructose juice. I really hope the bathrooms will be open.

I'm sure this venture will involve lots of Euchre playing, ping pong, and DVD watching. You know, the stuff all hungry kids do to pass the time between Red Cross rice shipments. I'm sure he'll come home a new boy. Which reminds me, I need to stock the kitchen.

Dutch Treat

In a land where drugs are legal, who'd have thought that being Dutch was so difficult?

The People's President

Apparently there are worse choices for President than the guy we have now.