Today we went to Target and to the mall. We weren’t Christmas shopping; we needed some workout clothes for my wife and her grandmother wanted to buy her a dress. The lack of shoppers shocked me. Target showed no signs that today was Black Friday, and the mall barely seemed to register an uptick. I [...]
Archive for November, 2008
The Poverty Draft
Posted: November 29, 2008 in UncategorizedTags: economic crisis, Jesus, military recruitment, nonviolence
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India Attacks: Probably Not Pakistan vs. India
Posted: November 27, 2008 in UncategorizedTags: India, mumbai, Pakistan
The tragedy in India continues to unfold today. India’s leaders already insinuated that Pakistan might be responsible. Pakistan’s leaders warned India’s leaders not to burn their good will by reflexively blaming their traditional enemies, especially at a time when Pakistan’s new leaders offer things like forswearing a nuclear strike on India. Two scenarios or a [...]
Jerusalem, Washington and Babylon
Posted: November 27, 2008 in UncategorizedTags: Afghanistan, Jesus, nonviolence, Pentagon
The scripture for the Eucharist for Thursday: Luke 21:20-28 The Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold 20 ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.* 21Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not [...]
Friday night I landed back in Austin after a week in D.C. I was not prepared for travel back to our old stomping grounds. My wife and I lived in D.C. for five years while I worked on Capitol Hill, and in a lot of ways it still feels like home. I made the mistake [...]
I’m no conservative, but The American Conservative nailed it: Nobody wants to recall what Americans believed back then. That’s OK: I’ll remember it. People thought that Saddam was “connected to” 9/11, and his agents were going to poison our water, nuke our cities, and gas our subways. At least they claimed to believe all that [...]
Communion Will Devour Obama Supporters’ Souls (Apparently) Because God Hates Abortion but is (Apparently) Indifferent to War
Posted: November 13, 2008 in UncategorizedTags: abortion, Jesus, nonviolence, Obama
“I don’t understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who’s a pro-abortion candidate,” said Ted Kelly, 64, who volunteers his time as lector for the church. “You’re talking about the murder of innocent beings.” A priest in South Carolina wrote a letter to his parishioners [...]
I will rest easy tonight knowing my slumber is defended by hundreds of mass-murder devices in the hands of capable, well-referenced, moral and competent people. Or not. (Hat tip to Danger Room) The 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., failed its nuclear surety inspection after inspectors found problems with wing’s Maintenance Group [...]
Sears Bad Fashion Decisions Leads to Loss of about 10 Dollars in Annual Interest Revenue
Posted: November 12, 2008 in UncategorizedTags: militarism, Sears
I just cut up my Sears credit card and canceled my account. Why would I do such a sensible thing, you might ask? Well, I’ll tell you: The Army Brand’s First Infantry Division collection for men, women and boys represents the first time the U.S. Army has officially licensed the use of its marks and [...]
Last night I signed up for the Kirkridge Center’s Creating a Culture of Peace Facilitator’s Training, to be held the first week in December. Jumpstart your peacemaking and group facilitation skills and join a national network of certified CCP facilitators. This course increases your ability to use popular education’s interactive and mutual learning techniques. You [...]
Armistice Day
Posted: November 11, 2008 in UncategorizedTags: Armistice Day, Jesus, nonviolence, Veterans Day
Today is Armistice Day in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words: Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, [...]
