Day: December 13, 2012

Christmas trees or ‘Holiday’ trees? – Ben Stein

Rockefeller Center’s gigantic Christmas tree
Rockefeller Center’s gigantic Christmas tree

Christmas trees or ‘Holiday’ trees?
Posted on December 13, 2012 by kathleen

 

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America …
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Ben Stein

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

Ben Stein
Ben Stein

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat. Continue reading “Christmas trees or ‘Holiday’ trees? – Ben Stein” →

Update on Egypt Vote: Divide and Conquer

Spring FeverPeanut Gallery: Morsi has decided to “bifurcate” the referendum on Egypt’s new constitution… setting the dates a week apart – Dec 15 & 22.

Andrew McCarthy details below why this works to Morsi’s advantage and why he and the Muslim Brotherhood are likely to prevail.

For those of you who would like a larger perspective on the “Arab Spring” and the “Islamic Supremacy” movement, I commend to you McCarthy ‘s book “Spring Fever” coming soon in paperback. McCarthy also writes regularly for PJMedia.com.
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Morsi Staggers Referendum on Constitution by Andrew McCarthy (December 12th, 2012 – 7:55 am)

Amid the continuing unrest in Egypt, President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood has now decided to bifurcate the referendum on the proposed sharia constitution. The voting will go forward as scheduled this Saturday, but only in ten governorates. The rest of the country will then vote the following Saturday, December 22.
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The Illusion of Islamic Democracy – Andrew McCarthy
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The whole point of Morsi’s presidency, the point of everything he’s done for the last five months, is the implementation of a sharia constitution. As I explain in Spring Fever: The Illusion of Islamic Democracy (soon to be published in paperback), that is what Morsi and the Brotherhood promised to do during the campaign leading to his election as president. Sharia implementation is the goal behind his seizures of dictatorial powers: In August, Morsi awarded himself legislative authority Continue reading “Update on Egypt Vote: Divide and Conquer” →

Update: The New/Old “Mosque” at Ground Zero

Peanut Gallery: Here’s an update from the folks at pjmedia. I’m posting this because it’s a good example of how things get convoluted in Muslim-American Media relations. Things are never what they seem on the surface.

Who won this “tug of war?” You be the judge… but remember, they’ll be back at it again when the opportunity arises… perhaps, next door to you.
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The Ground Zero Mosque and Media Sleight of Hand

The irony could not have been thicker: the New York Post reported Sunday that one year after the notorious Park51 “community center” opened “with great fanfare,” it was “now an empty space with no community programs.” Park51, you may recall, is the official name of what is more famously known as the Ground Zero mosque. The entire controversy over the Ground Zero mosque is an illuminating example of how the media manipulates public perceptions.

wpid-images-12.jpegThis non-center is still in the damaged Burlington Coat Factory building.

Now the central deception – that the Ground Zero mosque was never really a mosque at all — has been fully revealed. The Post continued: “What’s more, while the developers behind Park51 insisted for two years that the project was more than a mosque, it now appears to be just that. Dozens of worshipers gather at the site on Park Place Friday for prayer services — but that’s the only activity in the building.”

This is the ignominious denouement of the institution that its developer, Sharif El-Gamal, once boasted would soon be “the most famous community center in the whole world.”

Continue reading “Update: The New/Old “Mosque” at Ground Zero” →

Hymn for Advent: “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” – YouTube

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” – Henry Van Dyke (1907)

som-sabadell-flash-mob-1 flipJoyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You, 
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; 
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, 
Fill us with the light of day!

All Your works with joy surround You, Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You, Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Praising You eternally!


Flashmob “Ode to Joy” – Sabadell, Spain – placa Sant Roc (6:00 pm/19 may 2012)

Always giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living, Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother, Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus, Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us, Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life

Morning Reading: Psalm 145 NLT

Psalm 145 NLT – A psalm of praise of David.

Child worshipping - leftI will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.

I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

Psalm 145
Psalm 145

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

Rwanda_Mission_Trip_180.207145538_stdThe Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.