This guy visited bin Laden's home -- exclusive insights about the hunt for bin Laden.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-may-3-2012/peter-bergen
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Exclusive - David Barton Extended Interview - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 05/01/12
Further below are links to a 2-part interview with David Barton on the Daily Show earlier this week. Before you watch them, you should know that David Barton is not a professional historian but pretends to be one, and real historians accuse him of simply making things up in order to support his evangelical Christian claims. The first paragraph on him in Wikipedia says:
David Barton (born 1954) is an American evangelical Christian minister,[1] conservative activist, and author. He founded WallBuilders, a Texas-based organization with a goal of exposing the claimed U.S. constitutional separation of church and state as a myth.[2][3] Barton is the former co-chair of the Republican Party of Texas.Barton collects early American documents, and his official biography describes him as "an expert in historical and constitutional issues".[4] Barton holds no formal credentials in history or law, and scholars dispute the accuracy and integrity of his assertions about history, accusing him of practicing misleading historical revisionism, "pseudoscholarship" and "outright falsehoods".[5][6][7][8] According to the New York Times, "many professional historians dismiss Mr. Barton, whose academic degree is in Christian Education from Oral Roberts University, as a biased amateur who cherry-picks quotes from history and the Bible." [9]
A 2005 Time magazine article entitled "The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals" called Barton "a major voice in the debate over church-state separation" who, despite the fact that "many historians dismiss his thinking... [is] a hero to millions—including some powerful politicians."[10] He has been described as a Christian nationalist and "one of the foremost Christian revisionist historians"; much of his work is devoted to advancing the idea, based upon research that many historians describe as flawed,[9] that the United States was founded as an explicitly Christian nation.[11] Barton has appeared on television and radio programs, including those of former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and Glenn Beck, who has praised Barton as "the Library of Congress in shoes".[12]
And now here are the videos of the interview. I offer them for your viewing so that we can be aware of what passes for "knowledge" and "facts" and influences voters. It is as if anyone without any training could claim to be a minister or doctor or lawyer or car mechanic; just say what you believe and that is good enough, eh?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Krugman Unloads On Paul Ryan
Krugman Unloads On Paul Ryan
TPMDC | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8QHZp
Paul Krugman fired back at Rep. Paul Ryan after the influential Republican laughed off the New York Times columnist's ... Read more
TPMDC | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8QHZp
Paul Krugman fired back at Rep. Paul Ryan after the influential Republican laughed off the New York Times columnist's ... Read more
Republican cuts to preventive health care would screw everybody, not just women
Pyrrhic vindication: Republican cuts to preventive health care would screw everybody, not just women
DAILY KOS | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8S2Oz
According to NPR, fact-checkers have been having a field day with Democratic claims that the Republicans are continuing their ... Read more
DAILY KOS | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8S2Oz
According to NPR, fact-checkers have been having a field day with Democratic claims that the Republicans are continuing their ... Read more
Paging Donald Rumsfeld: If the bin Laden raid was such an easy call, why did you say no?
Paging Donald Rumsfeld: If the bin Laden raid was such an easy call, why did you say no?
DAILY KOS | MAY 2, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8RncR
A decade after the Iraq war, Rumsfeld is still lying for Republicans (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Donald Rumsfeld Tuesday night ... Read more
DAILY KOS | MAY 2, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8RncR
A decade after the Iraq war, Rumsfeld is still lying for Republicans (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Donald Rumsfeld Tuesday night ... Read more
T. Boone Pickens: ‘The Biggest Deterrent To An Energy Plan In America Is Koch Industries’
T. Boone Pickens: 'The Biggest Deterrent To An Energy Plan In America Is Koch Industries'
THINKPROGRESS | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8RMO5
Billionaire energy investor T. Boone Pickens has a bone to pick with the country's leading pollutocrats. Pickens said in ... Read more
THINKPROGRESS | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8RMO5
Billionaire energy investor T. Boone Pickens has a bone to pick with the country's leading pollutocrats. Pickens said in ... Read more
American Enterprise Institute And Brookings Must-Read: ‘The Republicans Are The Problem’
American Enterprise Institute And Brookings Must-Read: 'The Republicans Are The Problem'
THINKPROGRESS | APRIL 28, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8Gdml
Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann tell the media "a balanced treatment of an unbalanced phenomenon distorts reality." ... Read more
THINKPROGRESS | APRIL 28, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8Gdml
Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann tell the media "a balanced treatment of an unbalanced phenomenon distorts reality." ... Read more
TechHive: Aperture and shutter controls explained
TechHive: Aperture and shutter controls explained
MACWORLD | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8Rye2
Tim Moynihan explains how the manual controls on a digital camera work. Read more
MACWORLD | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8Rye2
Tim Moynihan explains how the manual controls on a digital camera work. Read more
5 Rules for Staying Safe on the Internet
5 Rules for Staying Safe on the Internet
POPULAR MECHANICS | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8QXyc
**There is such a thing as an Internet Safety** class. In some states, it's even required in high school. The Virginia Department of Education's websi... Read more
POPULAR MECHANICS | MAY 3, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8QXyc
**There is such a thing as an Internet Safety** class. In some states, it's even required in high school. The Virginia Department of Education's websi... Read more
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Colbert Mocks Paul Ryan's Budget Cuts To The Poor
Colbert Mocks Paul Ryan's Budget Cuts To The Poor
TPMDC | MAY 2, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8OAUe
Stephen Colbert on Tuesday turned from politics to policy, focusing on House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's budget. Read more
http://pulse.me/s/8OAUe
Stephen Colbert on Tuesday turned from politics to policy, focusing on House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's budget. Read more
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Independent Analysis Confirms That Hydraulic Fracturing Caused Drinking Water Contamination In Wyoming
Independent Analysis Confirms That Hydraulic Fracturing Caused Drinking Water Contamination In Wyoming
THINKPROGRESS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8LFym
by Jessica Goad A recent study from the Environmental Protection Agency showing that chemicals from hydraulic fracturing had ... Read more
THINKPROGRESS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8LFym
by Jessica Goad A recent study from the Environmental Protection Agency showing that chemicals from hydraulic fracturing had ... Read more
Leaders Slam Obama, Clinton's 'Despicable' 'Pro-Homosexual Regime'
Leaders Slam Obama, Clinton's 'Despicable' 'Pro-Homosexual Regime'
THE HUFFINGTON POST - DIVORCE FEATURED NEWS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8Ni0Z
Two high-profile right-wing pundits are kicking off May with slams to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) ... Read more
THE HUFFINGTON POST - DIVORCE FEATURED NEWS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8Ni0Z
Two high-profile right-wing pundits are kicking off May with slams to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) ... Read more
Mitt Romney: It's 'inappropriate' to suggest I meant what I said when I was wrong about bin Laden
Mitt Romney: It's 'inappropriate' to suggest I meant what I said when I was wrong about bin Laden
DAILY KOS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8M9KO
"So I was a wee little bit wrong about bin Laden. Doesn't give you the right to say so." (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Mitt Romney ... Read more
DAILY KOS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8M9KO
"So I was a wee little bit wrong about bin Laden. Doesn't give you the right to say so." (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Mitt Romney ... Read more
Mitt Romney and his team maintain steady flow of foreign policy lies. Called on them, they repeat
Mitt Romney and his team maintain steady flow of foreign policy lies. Called on them, they repeat
DAILY KOS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8MMe1
(Caricature by DonkeyHotey) In a blast at Mitt Romney's campaign team's foreign policy pronouncements, Walter Pincus ... Read more
DAILY KOS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8MMe1
(Caricature by DonkeyHotey) In a blast at Mitt Romney's campaign team's foreign policy pronouncements, Walter Pincus ... Read more
Mitt Romney's 'clarification' on bin Laden is another foreign policy blunder
Mitt Romney's 'clarification' on bin Laden is another foreign policy blunder
DAILY KOS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8NbTS
(Bryan Snyder/Reuters) First Mitt Romney tried to get the Obama campaign to stop talking about Romney's error in judgment on ... Read more
DAILY KOS | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8NbTS
(Bryan Snyder/Reuters) First Mitt Romney tried to get the Obama campaign to stop talking about Romney's error in judgment on ... Read more
How 'Obamacare' Is Saving Seniors Billions On Meds
How 'Obamacare' Is Saving Seniors Billions On Meds
TPMDC | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8LJWI
In the first two years after "Obamacare" was signed, Medicare reforms in the law saved seniors a total of $3.4 billion in ... Read more
TPMDC | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8LJWI
In the first two years after "Obamacare" was signed, Medicare reforms in the law saved seniors a total of $3.4 billion in ... Read more
Top GOPer: Ban On Pre-Existing Conditions Discrimination 'A Terrible Idea'
Top GOPer: Ban On Pre-Existing Conditions Discrimination 'A Terrible Idea'
TPMDC | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8MZCx
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), the No. 5 House Republican, says he opposes one of the Affordable Care Act's most popular provisions -- ... Read more
TPMDC | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8MZCx
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), the No. 5 House Republican, says he opposes one of the Affordable Care Act's most popular provisions -- ... Read more
GOP split on reforming health care
GOP split on reforming health care
POLITICO TOP STORIES | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8M0IC
Republicans have coalesced around only a few basic tenets of health policy so far. ... Read more
POLITICO TOP STORIES | MAY 1, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8M0IC
Republicans have coalesced around only a few basic tenets of health policy so far. ... Read more
Congress: It's going to get worse - Charles Mahtesian and Jim VandeHei - POLITICO.com
Congress: It's going to get worse - Charles Mahtesian and Jim VandeHei - POLITICO.com
http://pulse.me/s/8MqtJ
http://pulse.me/s/8MqtJ
Highly religious people are less motivated by compassion than are non-believers
Highly religious people are less motivated by compassion than are non-believers
REDDIT TOP NEWS | APRIL 30, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8KVrf
Read more... 883 score | 536 comments > submitted by nanomatus subreddit: science ... Read more
REDDIT TOP NEWS | APRIL 30, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8KVrf
Read more... 883 score | 536 comments > submitted by nanomatus subreddit: science ... Read more
Romney spokesman claims credit for Obama auto rescue Mitt repeatedly slammed
Romney spokesman claims credit for Obama auto rescue Mitt repeatedly slammed
DAILY KOS | APRIL 30, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8KgqM
"Let's get one thing straight: It's not flip-flopping. It's lying." (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Mitt Romney tells two basic ... Read more
DAILY KOS | APRIL 30, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8KgqM
"Let's get one thing straight: It's not flip-flopping. It's lying." (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Mitt Romney tells two basic ... Read more
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Polling analysis: Obamacare has potential to be far more popular than conventional wisdom suggests
Polling analysis: Obamacare has potential to be far more popular than conventional wisdom suggests
DAILY KOS | APRIL 27, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8GAEj
Clifford Young, managing director of Ipsos Public Affairs' Polling, does a great service in breaking down the polling on the ... Read more
DAILY KOS | APRIL 27, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8GAEj
Clifford Young, managing director of Ipsos Public Affairs' Polling, does a great service in breaking down the polling on the ... Read more
At least 22 million would go hungry under Ryan/Romney budget
At least 22 million would go hungry under Ryan/Romney budget
DAILY KOS | APRIL 26, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8GQrp
Remember how those massive budget cuts in the Romney/Ryan plan fall primarily on poor Americans? The Center for American ... Read more
DAILY KOS | APRIL 26, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8GQrp
Remember how those massive budget cuts in the Romney/Ryan plan fall primarily on poor Americans? The Center for American ... Read more
Two stupid lies the right spread this week
Two stupid lies the right spread this week
SALON.COM | APRIL 27, 2012
http://pulse.me/s/8EUFd
The (now updated) Daily Mail story that launched the necrophilia myth (Credit: Daily Mail) Did you hear about the new law in Egypt that the Muslim Br... Read more
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Interviews for the well-informed
Here are some recent programs I found interesting. The links below take you to the programs' Web sites, where you can look for and click the link to listen to the episode. Most of these can also be found as free podcasts on the site or in the iTunes Store.
Added 2012-05-12
Older
Also, from YouTube:
Added 2012-05-12
- Voting Out Austerity France and Greece vote out austerity. We’ll look at what their elections mean for Europe’s debt crisis and the world.
- Paul Krugman Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman says we’re in an economic depression and we’ve got to act to end it.
- Martha Nussbaum: "The New Religious Intolerance"
Older
Also, from YouTube:
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The resurgence of Ayn Rand: Interview
Listen to today's discussion of Ayn Rand and her influence on Conservative and TEA Party leadership:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2011/04/27/ayn-rand-resurgence
From the discussion:
Michael Garrison, former speech writer for George W. Bush recently summed it up this way:
You could put it on a napkin.
Reason is everything.
Religion is a fraud.
Selfishness is a virtue.
Altruism is a crime against human excellence.
Self-sacrifice is weakness.
Weakness is contemptible.
Quoting Rand: “The objectivist ethics in essence hold that man exists for his own sake, that the pursuit of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose, that he must not sacrifice himself to others, nor sacrifice others to himself.”
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2011/04/27/ayn-rand-resurgence
From the discussion:
Michael Garrison, former speech writer for George W. Bush recently summed it up this way:
You could put it on a napkin.
Reason is everything.
Religion is a fraud.
Selfishness is a virtue.
Altruism is a crime against human excellence.
Self-sacrifice is weakness.
Weakness is contemptible.
Quoting Rand: “The objectivist ethics in essence hold that man exists for his own sake, that the pursuit of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose, that he must not sacrifice himself to others, nor sacrifice others to himself.”
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Lenten Reflection
Here are some thoughts and observations I have had of late. They deal with the struggle between self-centeredness and self-sacrifice, a movie, some books, and a budget proposal.
Representative Paul Ryan, who is promoting the new budget that would privatize Medicare and cut many programs you and your family likely depend upon, is a devoted follower of the teachings of Ayn Rand. He says it is because of her teachings that he is in politics; her books are required reading for all his staff. http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/80552/paul-ryan-and-ayn-rand
If you have not yet heard of Paul Ryan and his budget proposal, here is some info -- http://www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/
Ayn Rand was an atheist whose books preached the value of self-centeredness, get all you can for yourself, the rich deserve to be rich and don't owe anything to anyone else, and the poor and middle class are worthless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand
(This is not to say that I think atheists are all self-centered, but it is what Rand taught. And isn't it odd that the Party that wants to claim we are a "Christian Nation" and talks about "Christian values" when running for election, once in office, promotes the ideals of an atheist instead, ideals that are patently counter-Christian? Do you not find that deceptive and offensive?)
I think if you were to read Rand's novel The Fountainhead, you would be scandalized. In this book, the “hero” is praised because he raped a woman, and after she thought about it for a while, she was glad he did. Then, he goes on to blow up a housing complex because it does not meet his artistic standards. The final 40 pages of the book are his testimony on the witness stand, defending what he did as his right to self-expression. Here is my more detailed discussion of this novel -- http://dnspeak.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-review-fountainhead-by-ayn-rand.html
Another of Rand’s books is called Atlas Shrugged. The movie based upon this book will be released April 15. (http://www.atlasshruggedpart1.com/atlas-shrugged-movie-trailer) This is no mere coincidence; April 15 was chosen because it is tax day, and Ayn Rand is popular among the leaders of the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party. I expect that in coming months we will be liberally drenched in Ayn Rand-ism in the hope of making more palatable more harsh cuts in spending for the middle class, the disabled, the poor, and children, and even more tax cuts for the rich.
I can’t say the movie will be worth seeing for its entertainment value; I don’t know. But I do think it is worth all of us knowing who Ayn Rand was and what she taught, so we recognize Rand’s teachings when we hear them uttered by certain leaders. It comes down to deciding for ourselves whether we want to accept the politics of Ayn Rand devotees like Paul Ryan and leaders of the TEA Party. Whether you see the movie or not, I urge you to research Ayn Rand and the politicians who follow her.
Meanwhile, here is what Evangelical minister Jim Wallis has to say: The budget is a moral document that reflects our values. He is currently leading dozens of religious people and politicians in a hunger fast to call attention to the needs of the poor. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKnt9gLN-io) More from Jim Wallis: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/this-is-not-fiscal-conser_b_827885.html.
Whose side are you on -- Paul Ryan's or Jim Wallis'?
And for those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, I think the question we have to ask ourselves today and in coming weeks is whether we are in favor of a budget that reflects the values of Ayn Rand or one that reflects the values of Jesus Christ.
I welcome your reflections and comments.
Representative Paul Ryan, who is promoting the new budget that would privatize Medicare and cut many programs you and your family likely depend upon, is a devoted follower of the teachings of Ayn Rand. He says it is because of her teachings that he is in politics; her books are required reading for all his staff. http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/80552/paul-ryan-and-ayn-rand
If you have not yet heard of Paul Ryan and his budget proposal, here is some info -- http://www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/
Ayn Rand was an atheist whose books preached the value of self-centeredness, get all you can for yourself, the rich deserve to be rich and don't owe anything to anyone else, and the poor and middle class are worthless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand
(This is not to say that I think atheists are all self-centered, but it is what Rand taught. And isn't it odd that the Party that wants to claim we are a "Christian Nation" and talks about "Christian values" when running for election, once in office, promotes the ideals of an atheist instead, ideals that are patently counter-Christian? Do you not find that deceptive and offensive?)
I think if you were to read Rand's novel The Fountainhead, you would be scandalized. In this book, the “hero” is praised because he raped a woman, and after she thought about it for a while, she was glad he did. Then, he goes on to blow up a housing complex because it does not meet his artistic standards. The final 40 pages of the book are his testimony on the witness stand, defending what he did as his right to self-expression. Here is my more detailed discussion of this novel -- http://dnspeak.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-review-fountainhead-by-ayn-rand.html
Another of Rand’s books is called Atlas Shrugged. The movie based upon this book will be released April 15. (http://www.atlasshruggedpart1.com/atlas-shrugged-movie-trailer) This is no mere coincidence; April 15 was chosen because it is tax day, and Ayn Rand is popular among the leaders of the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party. I expect that in coming months we will be liberally drenched in Ayn Rand-ism in the hope of making more palatable more harsh cuts in spending for the middle class, the disabled, the poor, and children, and even more tax cuts for the rich.
I can’t say the movie will be worth seeing for its entertainment value; I don’t know. But I do think it is worth all of us knowing who Ayn Rand was and what she taught, so we recognize Rand’s teachings when we hear them uttered by certain leaders. It comes down to deciding for ourselves whether we want to accept the politics of Ayn Rand devotees like Paul Ryan and leaders of the TEA Party. Whether you see the movie or not, I urge you to research Ayn Rand and the politicians who follow her.
Meanwhile, here is what Evangelical minister Jim Wallis has to say: The budget is a moral document that reflects our values. He is currently leading dozens of religious people and politicians in a hunger fast to call attention to the needs of the poor. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKnt9gLN-io) More from Jim Wallis: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/this-is-not-fiscal-conser_b_827885.html.
Whose side are you on -- Paul Ryan's or Jim Wallis'?
And for those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, I think the question we have to ask ourselves today and in coming weeks is whether we are in favor of a budget that reflects the values of Ayn Rand or one that reflects the values of Jesus Christ.
I welcome your reflections and comments.
Book Review: "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand
How many of these statements do you agree with?
Yet somehow, all the other characters in the book, who themselves are uniformly despicable -- there is not a single one I would want as a friend or recommend as a role model -- all find something mystical, prophetic, even messianic in the man Rand gives us as the hero. Merely entering his presence makes them more serene and courageous. They feel a strange attraction to him. They don't merely excuse his multiple criminal and sociopathic actions, they actually regard them as inspired and admirable. And given the fact that the actions of the hero are intended to put into practice all the statements of his I have quoted above, it is hard to see why Rand's philosophy of Objectivism warrants any attention at all -- yet she apparently has thousands of disciples.
Make no mistake: The crimes committed by the hero are not civil disobedience. We are not talking about a Gandhi, a King, a Rosa Parks, a Thoreau. We are not talking about a man who disobeys unjust laws in order to show they are unjust and to free people from oppression. We are talking about a "hero" who commits tortious acts against others because it pleases him to do so, and he gets away with it because the author and all of the book's characters regard him as the enlightened one -- a sort of Buddha. And her anti-hero appears practically demonic.
In her quest to explain her notions of Objectivism, Rand makes every scene feel contrived. Every discussion and every tension is a debate in words or actions to make her case. Rand herself escaped from a life in communist, socialist, totalitarian society, so we can excuse, perhaps, her tendency in this novel to overstate her case for the cause of free individual thought and action, at the expense of realism in the novel.
That is not to say it is not a compelling read. I considered it a page-turner all the way through its 695 pages. Nor is it to say that the ideas are not worth debating. They are just not worth accepting on face value as presented by Rand. It is not that the book is not entertaining; just don't go looking for behavioral consistency in the characters, or even any rationale for their odd behavior, because it is not there. As for the ending, it is patently ridiculous.
If you allow for these many distinct flaws, the book is worth reading for two reasons. One: If you are an independent thinker, and you are not inclined to live your life based upon the expectations of others or a need for other people's approval, you will enjoy -- maybe even be inspired by -- the struggles of the hero. And two: Ayn Rand's philosophy has influenced countless people in this country and around the world for several decades, and as a well-informed intellectual and a well-read person, you will want to know first hand what she says, and then form your own opinions.
Now, what about that quote above, the statement of the hero of Rand's book -- "The man who attempts to live for others is... a parasite."? According to Rand, altruism and leadership and self-sacrifice are actually evil, and selfish, and cause people to be enslaved. These assertions simply don't stand up in the face of real heroes like Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Rather, by comparison, they show Rand and her book's characters to all be self-absorbed, cynical, and limited. In the end, the philosophical argument boils down to this: Is one more fully human when one seeks to better the world by passionately following ones own interests, or is one more fully human when one invests oneself fully in freeing and healing other people?
- "The creator [i.e., the creative person] lives for his work... All relations with men are secondary..."
- The basic need of the second-hander [i.e., the person who depends upon others] is to secure his ties with men in order to be fed. He places relations first. He declares that man exists in order to serve others. He preaches altruism."
- "Altruism is the doctrine which demands that man live for others and place others above self."
- "The man who attempts to live for others is... a parasite."
- "Men have been taught that it is a virtue to agree with others. But the creator is the man who disagrees... Men have been taught it is a virtue to stand together. But the creator is the man who stands alone..."
- "In all proper relationships there is no sacrifice of anyone to anyone."
- "The first right on earth is the right of the ego. Man's first duty is to himself. His moral law is never to place his prime goal within the persons of others. His moral obligation is to do what he wishes, provided his wish does not depend primarily upon other men... But this does not include the sphere of the gangster, the altruist and the dictator."
- "This country was not based on selfless service, sacrifice, renunciation or any precept of altruism. It was based on a man's right to the pursuit of happiness. His own happiness. Not anyone else's. A private, personal, selfish motive..."
Yet somehow, all the other characters in the book, who themselves are uniformly despicable -- there is not a single one I would want as a friend or recommend as a role model -- all find something mystical, prophetic, even messianic in the man Rand gives us as the hero. Merely entering his presence makes them more serene and courageous. They feel a strange attraction to him. They don't merely excuse his multiple criminal and sociopathic actions, they actually regard them as inspired and admirable. And given the fact that the actions of the hero are intended to put into practice all the statements of his I have quoted above, it is hard to see why Rand's philosophy of Objectivism warrants any attention at all -- yet she apparently has thousands of disciples.
Make no mistake: The crimes committed by the hero are not civil disobedience. We are not talking about a Gandhi, a King, a Rosa Parks, a Thoreau. We are not talking about a man who disobeys unjust laws in order to show they are unjust and to free people from oppression. We are talking about a "hero" who commits tortious acts against others because it pleases him to do so, and he gets away with it because the author and all of the book's characters regard him as the enlightened one -- a sort of Buddha. And her anti-hero appears practically demonic.
In her quest to explain her notions of Objectivism, Rand makes every scene feel contrived. Every discussion and every tension is a debate in words or actions to make her case. Rand herself escaped from a life in communist, socialist, totalitarian society, so we can excuse, perhaps, her tendency in this novel to overstate her case for the cause of free individual thought and action, at the expense of realism in the novel.
That is not to say it is not a compelling read. I considered it a page-turner all the way through its 695 pages. Nor is it to say that the ideas are not worth debating. They are just not worth accepting on face value as presented by Rand. It is not that the book is not entertaining; just don't go looking for behavioral consistency in the characters, or even any rationale for their odd behavior, because it is not there. As for the ending, it is patently ridiculous.
If you allow for these many distinct flaws, the book is worth reading for two reasons. One: If you are an independent thinker, and you are not inclined to live your life based upon the expectations of others or a need for other people's approval, you will enjoy -- maybe even be inspired by -- the struggles of the hero. And two: Ayn Rand's philosophy has influenced countless people in this country and around the world for several decades, and as a well-informed intellectual and a well-read person, you will want to know first hand what she says, and then form your own opinions.
Now, what about that quote above, the statement of the hero of Rand's book -- "The man who attempts to live for others is... a parasite."? According to Rand, altruism and leadership and self-sacrifice are actually evil, and selfish, and cause people to be enslaved. These assertions simply don't stand up in the face of real heroes like Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Rather, by comparison, they show Rand and her book's characters to all be self-absorbed, cynical, and limited. In the end, the philosophical argument boils down to this: Is one more fully human when one seeks to better the world by passionately following ones own interests, or is one more fully human when one invests oneself fully in freeing and healing other people?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Isn't “social justice” part of our faith?
Question: Not long ago, Glenn Beck said we should leave any church that talks about social justice, because this is not in the Gospel. He said that our pope, when he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger, condemned liberation theology. Are these statements true?
Answer: No, they are not. Cardinal Ratzinger in 1984, as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, authored a document titled “Instruction on Certain Aspects of the 'Theology of Liberation'”. You can click here to read the entire text.
Here are some quotes from salient portions of the document that make clear that as followers of Jesus, we must be concerned for the poor and needy, and our concern must take the form of action to alleviate suffering:
The aspiration for 'liberation', as the term itself suggests, repeats a theme which is fundamental to the Old and New Testaments. In itself, the expression "theology of liberation" is a thoroughly valid term: it designates a theological reflection centered on the biblical theme of liberation and freedom, and on the urgency of its practical realization...
...In the Old Testament, the prophets after Amos keep affirming with particular vigor the requirements of justice and solidarity and the need to pronounce a very severe judgment on the rich who oppress the poor. They come to the defense of the widow and the orphan. They threaten the powerful: the accumulation of evils can only lead to terrible punishments. Faithfulness to the Covenant cannot be conceived of without the practice of justice. Justice as regards God and justice as regards mankind are inseparable. God is the defender and the liberator of the poor.
These requirements are found once again in the New Testament. They are even more radicalized as can be shown in the discourse on the Beatitudes. Conversion and renewal have to occur in the depths of the heart.
Already proclaimed in the Old Testament, the commandment of fraternal love extended to all mankind thus provides the supreme rule of social life. There are no discriminations or limitations which can counter the recognition of everyone as 'neighbor'.
...At the same time, the requirements of justice and mercy, already proclaimed in the Old Testament, are deepened to assume a new significance in the New Testament. Those who suffer or who are persecuted are identified with Christ. The perfection that Jesus demands of His disciples (Matthew 5:18) consists in the obligation to be merciful "as your heavenly Father is merciful".(Luke 6:36)
...[T]he 'Letter to Philemon' shows that the new freedom procured by the grace of Christ should necessarily have effects on the social level.
Answer: No, they are not. Cardinal Ratzinger in 1984, as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, authored a document titled “Instruction on Certain Aspects of the 'Theology of Liberation'”. You can click here to read the entire text.
Here are some quotes from salient portions of the document that make clear that as followers of Jesus, we must be concerned for the poor and needy, and our concern must take the form of action to alleviate suffering:
The aspiration for 'liberation', as the term itself suggests, repeats a theme which is fundamental to the Old and New Testaments. In itself, the expression "theology of liberation" is a thoroughly valid term: it designates a theological reflection centered on the biblical theme of liberation and freedom, and on the urgency of its practical realization...
...In the Old Testament, the prophets after Amos keep affirming with particular vigor the requirements of justice and solidarity and the need to pronounce a very severe judgment on the rich who oppress the poor. They come to the defense of the widow and the orphan. They threaten the powerful: the accumulation of evils can only lead to terrible punishments. Faithfulness to the Covenant cannot be conceived of without the practice of justice. Justice as regards God and justice as regards mankind are inseparable. God is the defender and the liberator of the poor.
These requirements are found once again in the New Testament. They are even more radicalized as can be shown in the discourse on the Beatitudes. Conversion and renewal have to occur in the depths of the heart.
Already proclaimed in the Old Testament, the commandment of fraternal love extended to all mankind thus provides the supreme rule of social life. There are no discriminations or limitations which can counter the recognition of everyone as 'neighbor'.
...At the same time, the requirements of justice and mercy, already proclaimed in the Old Testament, are deepened to assume a new significance in the New Testament. Those who suffer or who are persecuted are identified with Christ. The perfection that Jesus demands of His disciples (Matthew 5:18) consists in the obligation to be merciful "as your heavenly Father is merciful".(Luke 6:36)
...[T]he 'Letter to Philemon' shows that the new freedom procured by the grace of Christ should necessarily have effects on the social level.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
"Care without coverage...too little, too late"
Here are some Youtube videos on the subject of Health Care Reform.
- This one is from a young man in the U.K. giving his opinion about the U.K. health system.
- This one is from a U.S. man with some interesting numbers. 18,000 people die in the U.S. each year because they have no health care. (Perhaps a bit extreme in his conclusion, but he is personally affected by our health care problems and says several things worth consideration.)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Health Care Reform facts
Here is a growing list of resources for factual information and informed, civil dialogue. Be sure to see older posts below this one.
Below is a letter i wrote in reply to a flood of email containing falsehoods about health care reform, which serves as my guiding principle for providing the above information:
________________________________
Respectfully,
- (Added 8/16/2009) Diane Rehm has a very civilized and informative program on NPR every day -- 91.7 FM in the Detroit area. Tomorrow's program is described here -- http://wamu.org/programs/
dr/09/08/17.php#24726 . If you can't listen when the show is live, after the show is over there will be a link to listen to the recording. Also, her show is available as a free iTunes podcast that you can subscribe to in the iTunes store.I hold her program in high regard because she works hard to balance discussions and get the facts on the table. She specifically does not permit ad hominem attacks, shouting, heckling, and such. - (Added 8/16/2009) British like their health care and tell U.S. Republicans to stop lying: http://digg.com/political_opinion/British_like_their_healthcare_don_t_care_what_you_think?OTC-widget
- (Added 8/16/2009) LA arena is site for health care of last resort for thousands of poor and needy, with doctors from a program that serve Third World Countries - http://www.reuters.com/
article/topNews/ idUSTRE57C0PE20090813? feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews - Radio discussion on Diane Rehm Show -- Debate over health care proposals -- http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/08/11.php#26709 - also available as a free podcast download from iTunes by the end of the day.
- Statements on Health at Politifact -- http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/subjects/health/
- Reality Check by the White House -- http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/
- Eyes On Obama: Health Care Reform Link Compendium -- http://www.eyesonobama.com/blog/content/id_57746/title_Health-Care-Reform-Link-Compendium/
- Religious groups and ministers on Obama's side in Health Care Reform -- http://www.reuters.com/
article/topNews/ idUSTRE57947020090810? feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews - Does Canada's Health Care Need Fixing? (Investigative report on NPR) -- http://www.npr.org/templates/
player/mediaPlayer.html? action=1&t=1&islist=false&id= 111721651&m=111721665 - Obama's own words on reform -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
2009/08/08/obama-uses-jobs- report-to_n_254563.html - What's Behind the Opposition to Health Care Reform? -- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/
08/09/opinion/09rich.html?_r=1 - (Added 8/12/2009) Far-right religious group behind outrageous health care lies -- http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/11/765163/-Far-right-religious-group-behind-outrageous-health-care-lies
- (Added 8/13/2009) Stephen Hawking likes his British health care, contrary to GOP propaganda -- http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/erica/2009/08/stephen-hawking-likes-his-deat.php?ref=recdc
- (Added 8/16/2009) According to this article in the news August 13 -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
2009/08/13/internal-memo- , the White House may or may not have made a deal with the pharmaceutical companies such that the Health Reform Bill would not force a reduction in pharmaceutical prices as much as possible, in return for a promise from pharmaceutical companies that they would voluntarily lower prices for $80 billion in savings over the coming years. I am not sure why this is news today because I remember it being announced the day the they promised to lower prices by $80 billion many weeks ago (the headline on this page is a typo, it should say billion - http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2009/06/22/drug-companies-to-reduce-prescription-drug-discounts-by-80-million-in-10-years.htm).confirms-bi_n_258285.html
Nevertheless, there is now a copy of a memo floating around summarizing the alleged deal, which may or may not be authentic. What's more, it appears of no consequence because various people in Congress said they were not party to any such deal and were not bound by it, and they have already included provisions in the bill that contradict what the White House allegedly promised. However, perhaps this is the start of some new controversy you will want to be aware of, which may be yet another diversion from the facts. - (Added 8/13/2009) Looking for the text of the Health Care Reform bill in Congress so you can read it for yourself and see for yourself how true all the claims are?
One place is here -- http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text?goto_ On this site, you can hover your mouse over each sentence and add a comment or read the comments posted by others. This site promises to stay up to date as the Bill moves forward and gets modified.comment=115255&nid=t0%3Aih% 3A5&version=ih
Other locations are: - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/
query/z?c111:H.R.3200 - http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
search/pagedetails.action? granuleId=&packageId=BILLS- 111hr3200IH - http://energycommerce.house.
gov/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=1687: health-care-reform&catid=156: reports&Itemid=55 - http://edlabor.house.gov/
markups/2009/07/hr-3200- americas-affordable-he.shtml
Below is a letter i wrote in reply to a flood of email containing falsehoods about health care reform, which serves as my guiding principle for providing the above information:
________________________________
People:
Here is a link that shows the majority of people in a variety of surveys want single payer health care. This is not being offered in the current legislation, but the [email to which I was responding] seems to imply that it is. http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html
And here is a list of nations that have some form of universal health care that is successful:
Here is what doctors say about single-payer universal health care:
And I recently sent a message containing what a prominent evangelical minister says about health care.
My question is:
If we have evidence that universal health care is what the majority of citizens want and need, and...
If we have evidence that it can and does work very well for at least 28 other modern nations that we compete with, and ...
If we have testimony from doctors that health care is better when it is universal single-payer, and...
If we have statements from religious leaders that it is our moral duty to ensure that all among us, even the poorest of the poor, have the care they need, without regard to their ability to pay...
Then why is there so much talk saying health care reform -- particularly universal coverage -- can't work and shouldn't be adopted? Why so much attention given to fear mongers, and to people trying to prevent civil information meetings, shouting and ranting to disrupt all orderly conversation and exchange of information?
As concerned Christians and thinking individuals, should we not be the light in the darkness? Should we not be the people who show leadership to say, "Come, let us calmly and rationally look at the facts and discuss them, to arrive at what is best for the common good"?
Why not let's discuss the points the President makes? -- http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0742097620090808?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews or the points Jim Wallis makes in the message I sent the other day?
If anything, rather than suggesting health care reform as currently proposed goes too far, many people are concerned it does not go far enough because it does not include single-payer universal coverage.
At the very least, I suggest we should see it as our duty to look objectively at the facts and spread truth. We, of all people, have a responsibility to be careful to avoid passing on false statements or those intended to spread fear. And we should be supportive of appropriate and needed change when the facts, rather than emotions, show they are needed and are in our best interest.
What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Jon Stewart rips town hall crazies
No organized helpful facts in this post like the list I posted yesterday, but a lot of good points made through humor in two video clips on this page -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/11/jon-stewart-vs-town-hall_n_256272.html
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Resources for Facts vs. Myths, Distortions, and Outright Lies about Health Care Reform
Here is a growing list of resources for factual information and informed, civil dialogue.
Below is a letter i wrote in reply to a flood of email containing falsehoods about health care reform, which serves as my guiding principle for providing the above information:
________________________________
Respectfully,
- Radio discussion on Diane Rehm Show -- Debate over health care proposals -- http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/08/11.php#26709 - also available as a free podcast download from iTunes by the end of the day.
- Statements on Health at Politifact -- http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/subjects/health/
- Reality Check by the White House -- http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/
- Eyes On Obama: Health Care Reform Link Compendium -- http://www.eyesonobama.com/blog/content/id_57746/title_Health-Care-Reform-Link-Compendium/
- Religious groups and ministers on Obama's side in Health Care Reform -- http://www.reuters.com/
article/topNews/ idUSTRE57947020090810? feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews - Does Canada's Health Care Need Fixing? (Investigative report on NPR) -- http://www.npr.org/templates/
player/mediaPlayer.html? action=1&t=1&islist=false&id= 111721651&m=111721665 - Obama's own words on reform -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
2009/08/08/obama-uses-jobs- report-to_n_254563.html - What's Behind the Opposition to Health Care Reform? -- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/
08/09/opinion/09rich.html?_r=1 - (Added 8/12/2009) Far-right religious group behind outrageous health care lies -- http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/11/765163/-Far-right-religious-group-behind-outrageous-health-care-lies
- (Added 8/13/2009) Stephen Hawking likes his British health care, contrary to GOP propaganda -- http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/erica/2009/08/stephen-hawking-likes-his-deat.php?ref=recdc
Below is a letter i wrote in reply to a flood of email containing falsehoods about health care reform, which serves as my guiding principle for providing the above information:
________________________________
People:
Here is a link that shows the majority of people in a variety of surveys want single payer health care. This is not being offered in the current legislation, but the [email to which I was responding] seems to imply that it is. http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html
And here is a list of nations that have some form of universal health care that is successful:
Here is what doctors say about single-payer universal health care:
And I recently sent a message containing what a prominent evangelical minister says about health care.
My question is:
If we have evidence that universal health care is what the majority of citizens want and need, and...
If we have evidence that it can and does work very well for at least 28 other modern nations that we compete with, and ...
If we have testimony from doctors that health care is better when it is universal single-payer, and...
If we have statements from religious leaders that it is our moral duty to ensure that all among us, even the poorest of the poor, have the care they need, without regard to their ability to pay...
Then why is there so much talk saying health care reform -- particularly universal coverage -- can't work and shouldn't be adopted? Why so much attention given to fear mongers, and to people trying to prevent civil information meetings, shouting and ranting to disrupt all orderly conversation and exchange of information?
As concerned Christians and thinking individuals, should we not be the light in the darkness? Should we not be the people who show leadership to say, "Come, let us calmly and rationally look at the facts and discuss them, to arrive at what is best for the common good"?
Why not let's discuss the points the President makes? -- http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0742097620090808?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews or the points Jim Wallis makes in the message I sent the other day?
If anything, rather than suggesting health care reform as currently proposed goes too far, many people are concerned it does not go far enough because it does not include single-payer universal coverage.
At the very least, I suggest we should see it as our duty to look objectively at the facts and spread truth. We, of all people, have a responsibility to be careful to avoid passing on false statements or those intended to spread fear. And we should be supportive of appropriate and needed change when the facts, rather than emotions, show they are needed and are in our best interest.
What are your thoughts?
Evangelical Minster to Palin: Stop Embarassing Christians with evil behavior
Below is a reprint of an article by Jim Wallis on his blog -- http://blog.sojo.net/2009/08/11/palin-bad-for-dialogue/
Last Thursday, I wrote about truth-telling and responsibility in the debate over health care, urging an honest and fair debate with good information, not sabotage of reform with half-truths and misinformation.
On Friday, I read a statement from Sarah Palin, first on her Facebook page, then reported by the media:
The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.
I thought I had heard it all, but I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The statement is a new low for our political discourse.
Sarah, you’re the one who is acting in an “evil” way. After listening to your policy pronouncements during the campaign, many Americans decided, generously, that you weren’t ready yet for high political office. Others thought you just weren’t very smart. But this statement last week really does clear up the question for me. You are speaking like a demagogue in the worst tradition of those who knowingly distort and deceive, for their own political purposes. You want to stoke people’s worst fears and then, hopefully, they will look to someone like you to be their leader. You’re not stupid after all. You know that neither President Obama, nor anyone else in this health-care debate, would deny health care for your parents or child, and that none of the ideas being debated would suggest that. But people are confused and concerned, so you see your chance to prey upon their misunderstandings. Politics for people like you is really all about you, your fame and power, and your taste of it during the last election has revealed what kind of politician you truly are.
Please don’t invoke your “Christian faith” anymore and embarrass the people of God even further. May your efforts to scare Americans during this important debate fail. May your political future also fail, and may your star fall as fast as it rose just a few months ago — because we now know who you really are.
Jim Wallis is CEO of Sojourners.
To learn more about health-care reform, click here to visit Sojourners’ Health-Care Resources Web page.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
America’s Sea of Red Ink Was Years in the Making
There are two basic truths about the enormous deficits that the federal government will run in the coming years.
The first is that President Obama’s agenda, ambitious as it may be, is responsible for only a sliver of the deficits, despite what many of his Republican critics are saying. The second is that Mr. Obama does not have a realistic plan for eliminating the deficit, despite what his advisers have suggested. -- David Leonhardt, New York TimesSaturday, June 13, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Olbermann: Fox News to blame for murder -- TURN IT OFF!
Keith Olbermann shows how Fox News personalities, especially Bill O'Reilly, repeatedly incited violence leading to the shooting death of a doctor in his church. And his suggested solution: Whatever businesses you patronize, if they are playing Fox News, ask them to turn it off, and say why, and if they don't, say why, and leave.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Jon Stewart calls Fox News "extremists"
Yes, of course Jon Stewart is irreverent and a comedian. But look at the clips of people on Fox "News" here telling you Obama was wrong in the speech you (hopefully) just saw him give. (See my earlier posts.)
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Looking for Comity in the Muslim World | ||||
| ||||
Analysis of President Obama's Cairo speech
Analysis of President Obama's speech in Cairo -- This helps put things into perspective, especially what President Obama's words mean to people around the world.
A New Beginning
President Obama gave a speech this week that has been widely hailed as inspiring and a major first step in bringing peace and prosperity to the Middle East and around the world. In it, he shows how peace is the purpose of all three great religions of the area -- Islam, Judaism, and Christianity -- and how respect for one another and really listening to each other's needs instead of breeding hate and fear is the way forward we must choose, no matter how difficult.
Sadly, some major news media and politicians have distorted the message or downplayed it.
I urge you hear and see the speech for yourself. I promise you it is inspiring. You must hear the entire speech for yourself --
Sadly, some major news media and politicians have distorted the message or downplayed it.
I urge you hear and see the speech for yourself. I promise you it is inspiring. You must hear the entire speech for yourself --
- If you are serious about your faith
- If you are serious about your patriotism
- If you have any expectation of being perceived as an informed and intelligent individual
- If you care about helping promote peace and respectful relationships
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sufjan Stevens
I discovered this really interesting indie band on Austin City Limits tonight -- Sufjan Stevens --
http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/flash/video/player2/index.php?xml=/klru/austin/images/stories/ACL/Episodes/2000s/2006/sufjan_calexico/video/3205_sufjan_song.xml
http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/flash/video/player2/index.php?xml=/klru/austin/images/stories/ACL/Episodes/2000s/2006/sufjan_calexico/video/3205_sufjan_song.xml
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Here is the definition of the word tyranny. A tyrant is a brutal dictator, such as Hitler or Stalin.
Now, a curious number of Fox News employees and their guests have been throwing around the word tyranny. With help from Jon Stewart, you be the judge of whether they are right. What exactly is going on here with this so-called "news" channel?
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Baracknophobia - Obey | ||||
| ||||
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
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