From Thor L. Halvorssen, CEO, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (215-717-3473; fire@thefire.org):

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA -- In the spring of 2003, a student at theCalifornia Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) was found guilty of "disruption" for posting a flier -- in a public area -- that some students found "offensive." The public university placed unequal rights above the Bill of Rights. "Allowing some individuals to veto the protected expression of others is an unconscionable betrayal of Cal Poly's moral and legal obligations," said Thor L. Halvorssen, CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).

On November 12, 2002, Steve Hinkle, an undergraduate and a member of the Cal Poly College Republicans (CPCR), posted fliers advertising a speech by Mason Weaver, author of "It's OK to Leave the Plantation." In that book, Weaver argues that dependence on the government puts many African-Americans in circumstances similar to slavery. Weaver's speech was sponsored by both CPCR and the student government. The flier contained merely the title of the book, a photograph of the author (who is African-American), and the time and location of the speech.

In February, Cal Poly subjected Hinkle to a lengthy hearing. He was denied the right to have a lawyer present at the proceedings, but his faculty advisor made a transcript. At that hearing, Cornel Morton, vice president for student affairs, told Hinkle: "You are a young white male member of CPCR. To students of color, this may be a collision of experience.... The chemistry has racial implications, and you are naive not to acknowledge those."

On March 12, Vice Provost W. David Conn found Hinkle guilty. Conn ordered Hinkle to write letters of apology to the offended students. The sentencing letter from Conn stated that the text of the apology would be subject to the approval of the Office of Judicial Affairs. The letter also warned that "there is no parameter or guarantee regarding the confidentiality of the letter [of apology]" and that "this decision is final." Conn informed Hinkle that if he did not accept this punishment, he would face much stiffer penalties, up to expulsion.

On May 9, 2003, Cal Poly's legal counsel, Carlos Cordova, responded to FIRE's letter. Cordova denied any wrongdoing and did not substantively address any of FIRE's specific concerns. Today, Steve Hinkle remains punished for trying to post a factual, simple, and constitutionally protected flier.

"I have been distracted from my studies because a handful of my fellow students want to see me punished for the content of my flier," Hinkle said. "With FIRE in my corner, I now hope that Cal Poly will be made to respect my free speech rights."

"Cal Poly grants selected students abusive control over the expression of other students," Halvorssen noted. "Disagreement, now called 'offense,' is all it takes to get Cal Poly administrators to launch an inquiry and secure a conviction on a spurious charge of 'disruption.' Cal Poly gives some people the power to veto what others have to say. Students at that institution now live in insecure possession of their most basic First Amendment rights."

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is a nonprofit educational foundation. FIRE unites civil rights and civil liberties
leaders, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of individual rights,
freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and due process on our nation's campuses. FIRE's efforts to preserve liberty at Cal Poly and elsewhere can be seen by visiting www.thefire.org.

Interesting article challenging eco-extremist claims that fisheries are depleting the ocean of ocean-life. Bah.

Ten Common Myths About Taxes, Spending, and Budget Deficits

Myth numbers 5 and 6 are especially noteworthy. This is an article worth printing out and laminating. Display it above your mantle. Carry it in your billfold. Never enter an economic argument without this article in hand.

Bill Clinton's article on the need for FCC media regulation makes some good points. He was a horrible president and I have no respect for him personally, but his viewpoint deserves discussion. I can't say I disagree with him on this either.

Taxes and taxis

Jun 26th 2003--From The Economist print edition

Can tax cuts save the global economy? Ask a cab driver

A word from Bill Johnson, of the American Decency Association:

Brazenly promoting illicit sex, "Paradise Hotel" premiered on Fox television June 18 as the sleaziest reality TV show yet. Its revolting premise pits six women and five men at Paradise Hotel, a purposefully promiscuous place "where every desire is fulfilled and the only rule is hook up or go home," as the show's introduction blatantly states. To prevail, women must choose a sexy stranger and then jump into bed with a man they've known for a matter of hours. Hidden cameras and microphones are everywhere for the benefit of the prurient audience. Sexual intimacy is portrayed as a game -- with no more significance than
a handshake.

Your help is needed -- NOW! Without immediate action, the show will continue its weekly contest of illicit sex for the titillation of
impressionable viewers, who even are encouraged to join the debauchery! Please go to ConservativePetitions.com and read what is at stake.

Ann Coulter strikes again, this time insinuating that the label 'Democrat' is synonymous with traitor. She makes a good case that leftists were traitors during the McCarthy scare, and that they have yet to shake their traitorous nature.

Aw, man! For those of us that are pro-torture, this one's a let-down. I'm half-joking, btw.

THE BIG PICTURE -- You get the larger picture of the story of salvation in Edward Fudge's new book titled The Great Rescue: The Story of God's Amazing Grace. LEARN how the whole Bible fits together with Jesus at the center. SEE how grace and faith relate to works and obedience. DISCOVER the church as Jesus intended it -- a Spirit-filled community of believers living by divine power. APPRECIATE the gift of salvation as never before. WATCH the themes of Genesis 1-3 come to fulfillment in Revelation 21-22. Only $9.95 plus $1.50 shipping (USA). To order using credit card, call toll-free 1-877-634-6004 in the USA.

"Every 38 seconds in America a woman lays her body down, feeling forced to choose abortion out of a lack of practical resources and emotional support.

Abortion is a reflection that society has failed women. There is a better way. Refuse to choose."

---Patricia Heaton

Federalism is a concept of the past. The Supreme Court keeps pumping out controversial rulings that undermine the values and sovereignty of citizens, continually slighting their ability to participate in government. If local governments, composed of individual citizens, want to keep laws against sodomy on the books, that's their right. The government (i.e. the Supreme Court) does not have constitutional authority to mandate against such things.

The founders, when crafting the prodigy known as the Constitution, which is prefaced by the powerful words--We, the People--envisioned a country that would be governed by its own citizens--not a 280 million populace dictated by 6 justices (6 being the number who voted to overturn sodomy laws).

Nothing in the Constitution mentions sexual rights--for a good reason. Do you want the Feds mandating what you do or don't do in the bedroom? Or do you want your local community, the one you identify with in morals and political sentiments, to craft legislation to fit your community's needs? I choose the latter.

One state gets fiscal discipline, another gets disaster.

Ex-CIA Director Says Administration Stretched Facts on Iraq
By John Diamond
USA TODAY

Wednesday 18 June 2003

It's not clear at this point whether or not the U.S. had its facts completely in order when we moved into Iraq. We do know though, that the Iraqis have a much better future ahead of them than they did under the brutal Saddam. It is also clear that democracy in the Middle East will benefit the world in a myriad of ways.

A pilot's perspective of armed cockpits and passengers vs. additional airport screening.

Keeping non-governmental organizations (NGO's) accountable:

Bush's new target.

Message from Ken O'Connor, Family Research Council President:

Cyber Smut Squashed, CIPA Upheld

The First Amendment does not require public libraries, funded by taxpayer money, to become purveyors of pornography. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 today that the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is constitutional. Passed by Congress in 2000, CIPA requires public libraries that receive federal funding to install anti-porn filters on their computers to protect children from exposure to pornography. The American Library Association challenged the law, alleging it violated the First Amendment guarantee of free speech for patrons seeking out porn sites. The ALA also alleged filtering software might bar access to some non-porn web sites. The court rejected these arguments. Chief Justice William Rehnquist noted for the majority that CIPA does not turn librarians into censors, as the ALA alleged, because the filters can be disabled for adult patrons who ask. The majority held this does not overly burden the rights of porn-seekers. Common sense suggests that the First Amendment does not compel public libraries to offer patrons pornography. After all, public libraries do not stock their shelves with adult magazines or X-rated movies. Why should they be compelled to provide access to porn on the Internet? Thankfully, common sense prevailed. Doubtless parents and librarians, who cannot monitor children every moment, will be grateful for the court's ruling. Shielding children from smut in publicly funded libraries is a no-brainer.

Can you achieve the positive social outcomes of faith-based programs if you strip out the faith?

I'm not going to opine on this one, because as Abraham Lincoln said:

"There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of Government policy, is an inseparable compound of the two, so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded"

I think private, religious organizations tend to do just about anything better than government, but in this instance, I disagree with Prison Fellowship's methods for a variety of reasons--the biggest one that they preach salvation other than baptism. Which leaves me somewhat sympathetic to groups who don't subscribe to religion as the panacea to the world's ills. I think Christians in general do a better job than government, but other religions, such as Islam, contrast with our nation's democratic ideals. I just don't know what I think on this one....

Hmmm....Yet another limitation of free-speech & press. Mr. Bursey was arrested for holding up an anti-war sign in a non-free speech zone. As much as I disagree with the anti-war crowd, I agree with his defiance of set free speech zones:

"The prosecutors say that Mr Bursey was not in a special “free-speech zone” that was set up for protesters half a mile from the hangar. The pro-Bush people did not need to be there because they were not protesting. Mr Bursey told the cops, defiantly, that he was under the impression that the whole of America was a free-speech zone."

I can't believe I'm siding with a hippy. But alas, he's got as much a right as any to express his dissent.

Quote of the week...

"The credibility of this country is based upon our strong
desire to make the world more peaceful and the world is now
more peaceful after our decision.... And history will show
... time will prove that the United States made the absolute
right decision in freeing the people of Iraq from the clutches
of Saddam Hussein." --President George W. Bush

A poem written by the Indian poet Tagore comparing man's powerlessness to God's complete power:

No, it is not yours to open buds into blossom.
Shake the bud, strike it,
it is beyond your power to make it blossom
Your touch soils it.
You tear its petals to pieces
and strew them in the dust,
But no colors appear and no perfume.
Oh, it is not for you to open the bud into blossom.
He who can open the bud does it so simply.
He gives it a glance and the life sap stirs through its veins.
At his breath the flower spreads its wings
and flutters in the wind.
Colors flash out like heart longing,
the perfume betrays a sweet secret.
He who can open the bud does it so simply.

Roe's petition for review has been rejected because it was not filed within a "timely manner". Following that line of thought, if the Holocaust had not been stopped in the timespan that it had, it would have been tough luck for the world's Jews.

What dumb reasoning. If something is wrong, it's wrong. Look at the case's merits, not when the error is caught.

We've probably all heard the news by now that Norma McCorvey, the Roe in 1973's infamous Roe v. Wade, has filed a petition to officially overturn the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S.

I appreciate her efforts--I really do. I just wish she was more humbly contrite. When I was President of IU Students for Life, we considered bringing Norma McCorvey to the Bloomington campus to speak about her conversion to the pro-life camp. After much consideration, we declined to pursue her for a speaking engagement at that time. While bringing her to campus would have given our group publicity as well as ignite campus discussion of abortion, the exorbitant costs of the ordeal combined with her persnickety demands led us to our decision not to bring her to campus. I was perhaps the most incensed of the group.

Why would the woman responsible for legalized abortion in America be so demanding (like asking for special rooms to smoke in)? If I were the reason 40 million babies had been slaughtered, I would be so grieved, I wouldn't charge a cent to tell people about my realization that life is sacred and abortion is wrong.

Granted, the proceeds from the event go to her organization Roenomore.org, but much of the money out of our "poor college kid" coffers would have gone to meeting her special "celebrity" demands. If Norma McCorvey is truly sorry, she should make it clear by her actions. Right now I'm not convinced that this is not one big p.r. trip for her. I'm sure she regrets what she did....but how sorry is she?

Extinction of the car giants: Possible, but unexplained


The article, "Why America's car industry is an endangered species" gives a persuasive argument that Detroit's car manufacturers have reached their maximum capacity and are nearing extinction. The argument does not address, however, how unreasonable and unnecessary demands from environmental activists have bludgeoned the car companies into decline. Nor does the article acknowledge the detriment high taxes wreak on Detroit's car manufacturers. Rather, the article blames the weak economy for Detroit's downfall. The reality, is though, that high taxes (we're talking average rates around 35-45%) keeps would-be spenders at home, leaving manufacturers to suffer the economic casualties. Factor in lawsuits, and it is amazing that car manufacturers still exist in the U.S. Further consider the myriad of unfair and nearly impossible environmental demands placed on domestic car manufacturers and survival seems more remarkable.

Finally, I can't say I'm surprised, but I am disappointed at how a news source called The Economist can be so misleading and short-sighted in its economic exegeses.

A message from the OneMillionDads mailing list to remind us that Christian activism is not futile:

Rubbermaid had informed OneMillionMoms, OneMillionDads, and OneMillionYouth that they will no longer sponsor "Lucky."

Rubbermaid contacted Chairman Don Wildmon with their decision ONLY HOURS INTO THE CAMPAIGN.

Sylvia Montgomery, Director, Marketing for Rubbermaid, wrote a letter to OMM/OMD/OMY:

"Rubbermaid Commercial Products would like to express our sincere apologies to the members of your organization. Recently, one of our television commercials aired during the 'Lucky' television show on the Fx Network.

"Rubbermaid Commercial Products, a division of Newell-Rubbermaid, recognizes the importance of family values. We also recognize that television plays a tremendous role in the shaping of our culture. Effective immediately Rubbermaid Commercial will end airings of our television commercials during the 'Lucky' television show.

"Again, we appreciate your comments regarding this matter and thank you for taking the time to write us and express your thoughts."

We have thanked Rubbermaid on your behalf, so no further action is needed. Together, we're making a difference!

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon, Chairman
OneMillionDads.com

Richard W. Stevens, the editor of The Bill of Rights Sentinel, assembled some quick rebuttals to gun control arguments. I will post one from time to time. The first one follows:

Here's the question:

"Why do you so strongly oppose the government's registering firearms and licensing gun owners? Every car is registered; every driver is licensed or should be. Cars are important and dangerous. Guns are important and dangerous. So what's the problem with gun registration and owner licenses?"

It's a tough question because it draws on the everyday example of automobiles, and most everybody seems to accept state regulation of cars and drivers. Many pro-gun people have real trouble answering this question, and some among us have even surrendered the point.

Logic and history prove that gun registration and owner licensing pose grave threats to life and liberty. But we need to deliver a powerful answer to the question without the social studies lesson. The answer needs to be a fast effective sound bite.

Three Reasons in a Nutshell. Here is the answer you can give:

(1) Practically speaking, registration and licensing laws do not affect criminals, they only affect innocent citizens.

(2) Fundamentally speaking, citizens in a free society do not have to get permission from anyone to exercise their right to self-defense, just as they don't need permission to freely speak or worship. Licensing and registration schemes require citizens to get permission to defend themselves, so those schemes don't belong in a free society.

(3) Historically speaking, registration and licensing have been part of "gun control" programs that made possible the calculated mass murder of between 70 and 170 million people. Registration and licensing make genocide easier, not harder. I fight against genocide and I don't want to make genocide easier anywhere in the world.

Thisanswer is only 120 words at the most, so you can memorize it. It's pretty easy to memorize because it makes perfect sense. A snappy but profound quick answer gives no opportunity for interruptions. Speed and power are critically important when the questioner is hostile or you are being interviewed for radio or television. You don't want to have to think of the answer - you need to deliver it immediately.

Now turn the tables on the questioner. Ask this zinger question: "Now that you know the truth about registration and licensing, how can you support those ideas?"

Gary Younge's article pushing for gay rights, however biased, nonetheless coherently offers the secular position on same-sex benefits. Fundamentalist Christians need a game plan that the nation will accept, or gays will soon have their much-desired political equality.

Gay is the new black

"The gay rights issue has been a ticking timebomb for the Bush government. And now it looks about to explode....."

Monday June 16, 2003

Excellent article challenging the drug-the-elderly-with-taxpayer-money campaign politicians love to whip out when vying for elderly votes.

A culture of consumption does not anticipate the future. With increasing life expectancies, retirement takes much more planning than most give it today. People are saving less and spending more. Hard to teach people otherwise when the government acts even more irresponsibly than its citizenry.

When the law is too slow, citizens need to take matters into their own hands. This guy did. How cool! The picture is the best part.

How to build a democratic Iraq: the game plan.

The EU is partially supporting Bush foreign policy doctrine?

Paul Taylor reports:

"EU foreign ministers adopted a strategy to combat the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that for the first time included a reference to possible military action against states or terrorist groups that acquired such arms."

"After years of privately belittling the risk of terrorists acquiring such arms, the EU document said: "The acquisition of WMD or related materials by terrorists would represent an additional threat to the international system with potentially uncontrollable consequences."

More from 16 June 2003
Federalist No. 03-25/26 :


Federalist Digest #03-24 noted that the A&E network has a two-hour
movie in the works on the life of Hillary Clinton starring Sharon
Stone, she of basic instinct. We observed that surely there are
more appropriate candidates for this role, say, like Kathy Bates,
and asked our readers who you think should have gotten the role
of Hillary? Here is a sampler of your responses by category...

Looks more like Hillary than Sharon Stone: Stockard Channing,
"Hanoi" Jane Fonda, Sally Jesse Raphael, Tammy Faye Baker, Sandra
Bernhard, Anne Heche, Faye Dunaway, Miss Piggy, Harvey Fierstein,
Rosie O'Donnell, Roseanne Barr, Oliver Stone, Dr. Ruth, Marge
Simpson, Marty Feldman, Nick Nolte, Pee Wee Herman, Jabba the
Hutt, Ozzy Osborne, Yasser Arafat, Marilyn Manson, Bela Lugosi,
Alfred E. Newman, Bill Clinton.

Better "type cast" than Sharon Stone: Martha Stewart, Leona
Helmsley, Madame Mao Tse-tung, Mata Hari, Heidi Fleiss, Cruella
Deville, Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched from "One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest"), Tonya Harding, Lou Ferrigno, Tokyo Rose, Lady
MacBeth, Jezebel, Ellen DeGeneres, Freddy Krueger, Eva Braun,
Lizzy Borden, Michael Moore, Bozo The Clown, Helen Thomas, Lorena
Bobbitt, Bill Clinton.

Not enough testoterone for the role of Hillary: Martin Sheen, Alec
Baldwin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, Je$$ie Jack$on,
Al Sharpton, Anthony Hopkins, Charles Durning, Barney Fag, Bill
Clinton.

Already cast in "wife" role by Bill: Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers
Monica Lewinsky, Barbra Striesand, Tipper Gore, Juanita Broaddrick,
any of Hillary's ghostwriters, Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2, Jane
Doe #3, Jane Doe #4, etc...etc...

"What needs saying is that no peace is possible between the two
adversaries -- road map or no -- so long as the Arab nations
insist, as they have been doing for generations, on teaching
their children that hatred of Jews and suicide bombing is serving
Allah. If the Arabs leaders were looking forward to a peaceful,
negotiable resolution of the half-century conflict would Syrian
school textbooks be peddling anti-Semitism?" --Arnold Beichman

16 June 2003
Federalist No. 03-25/26

Finally...someone with a creative solution to curb begging.

Scientists think they've identified the flawed gene that causes manic depression. Which makes me wonder--is there a flawed gene that impairs one's political ideology? Perhaps a gene called LeftistIdiot or InaneHippie?

The caricature in this link is hilarious.

PABAAH

Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti-American Hollywood--A well-composed, jolly site. Worth the click.

Do the officious Commissars ever rest? Unfortunately for us freedom-loving, human rights honoring patriots, the answer is no.

A WorldNet Daily article serves to remind us to stay vigilant.

excerpts follow:

According to a report in the MetroWest Daily News, social workers from the Department of Social Services and police officers confronted the family at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, demanding that George, 15, and Nyssa, 13, complete a standardized test.

As they have in the past, the children's parents, George and Kim Bryant, refused to allow their children to go, even though the government now has legal custody of the kids.

"We have legal custody of the children and we will do with them as we see fit," [Department of Social Services Susan] Etscovitz told the Bryants, according to the Daily News. "They are minors and they do what we tell them to do."

****

Ms. "It takes a village to raise a child" Hillary Clinton must be overjoyed. Government is owning up to its new role of Super Parent. Forget traditional biological rights to disciplining children--Papa Government's in charge of your kiddos now.

And in this case, Papa Government judiciously discerned that the itinerant foster-child life undoubtedly beats the life kids would live in a household where parents did not subject their children to government-mandated standardized testing and had the audacity to challenge governmental authority.

sarcasm session ceased

Waging War on Women

excerpts from the article:

Representatives from more than a dozen pro-abortion organizations gathered at the National Press Club Tuesday to announce their plans for a "massive demonstration" in Washington at the start of the 2004 presidential campaign season.

Pro-life observers say the perceived need for such an event confirms the losses the pro-abortion movement suffered during the 2000 and 2002 elections.

A poll conducted by the Gallup Organization May 5-7 found that 62 percent of Americans thought abortion should be restricted, 19 percent saying it should be "illegal in all circumstances" and 42 percent believing abortion should be "legal in only a few circumstances."

Government Tries to Silence Anti-Tax Advocate
by Robert B. Bluey

"The U.S. Justice Department's tax division hasn't charged anti-tax advocate Irwin Schiff with a crime for his refusal to pay taxes. Instead, the government has asked a federal judge to permanently prohibit Schiff from selling one of his anti-tax books and promoting his ideas."

"I'm not telling anyone not to pay taxes, I'm just telling them there's no law requiring them to pay," Schiff said. "But the government wants them to think they're required by law to pay taxes."

Barring Schiff from printing his anti-tax book is a blatant governmental restriction of free speech and press. If you aren't outraged, you should be. The government is saying Schiff's book is "commercial" speech, rather than "political" speech and is thus suspect to govermental censorship. This inane classification portrays precisely why I am an absolutist for free speech and press.

Why did the U.S. invade Iraq? The article "Behind the changing rationales for war" offers an in-depth examination of U.S. motives for invading Iraq. As ironic as it seems at first reckoning, one reason the U.S. invaded Iraq was to "give peace a chance". Iraq, we assumed, would model to the belligerent Middle Eastern region what governmental stability entails. In a previous post, however, I argued that this is not only improbable, it may prove to be impossible. The only hope, in my opinion, is if the U.S. remains in Iraq for the long-haul. The U.S. could be a great mentor--but only on the condition that the Iraqis commit themselves to learning and practicing the true tenets of democracy.

Have to share this cute email forward. All you math geeks should appreciate this.

At Heathrow Airport today, an individual, later discovered to be a public school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a compass, a protractor, and a graphical calculator. Authorities believe he is a member of the notorious Al-Gebra movement. He is being charged with carrying weapons of math instruction.

Cute!

Women in Iraq face even stricter clothing restrictions after the U.S. invasion. I realize democracy is a process, but the problem of Iraq's clothing "police" underscores the major division between democracy and Islamic fundamentalist government. As Calvin Coolidge states it, "Our Government rests upon religion. It is from that source that we derive our reverence for truth and justice, for equality and liberty, and for the rights of mankind. Unless the people believe in these principles, they cannot believe in our Government."

Can devout Muslims embrace democracy? This is tantamount to deciding that communism could welcome capitalism or the night could be day. Islam and democracy are antithetical. The U.S. has been successful largely because of its foundational Judeo Christian values.

"Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary." --Reinhold Niebuhr

"Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy of his country." --John Witherspoon

"The freedom and happiness of man...[are] the sole objects of all legitimate government."--Thomas Jefferson

Islam's goal is the control and unhappiness of man. Islam cannot embrace democracy.

Condoleeza Rice vs. Hillary Clinton in 2008? That would be one interesting election battle, I must say. I have no evidence this might be the future, but Rice's impressive performance during the war makes me think she's got high aspirations.

Monkeys and atheists...

"Nevertheless, I believe that any objective person would have to conclude that the belief that everything came about by itself and that randomness is the creator is infinitely less intellectually sound than the belief in a Creator/Designer.' --Dennis Prager (Townhall.com, May 27, 2003)

A. W. Tozer, an evangelical leader of the last century, on misuse of Scripture:

"I believe that much of our religious unbelief is due to a wrong conception of and a wrong feeling for the Scriptures of Truth. A silent God suddenly began to speak in a book and when the book was finished lapsed into silence again forever…. . The facts are that God is not silent, has never been silent. It is the nature of God to speak."

Curious about the after-life? Want to know what heaven is going to be like? Here is one opinion.

Abortion has taken the lives of 13 million African Americans.

"The disproportionate number of abortions among African Americans has spurred prolifers to charge that Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers are systematically targeting blacks and other minority groups for abortion. Critics say Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood's founder, held racist views." --(Sheryl Blunt, Christianity Today, Feb. 2003)

Dick Morris is not on my list of favorite people (considering he was a Clinton advisor), but his letter to Hillary Clinton reveals what I believe to be the true nature of the Clinton dynasty.

Curious about a country's globalization index? Want to know who's up or who's down? Check here. Who's the most global? Hint: It's not the U.S....

The End is Near! Or is it? This expert says it's a 50/50 chance now. Boy, that's telling us a lot.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." --Job 1:21

Simple gratitude. Simple humility.

~ gracEmail ~
Edward Fudge
_______________________________________

HOPEFUL HOPELESSNESS (1)


My friend, a university professor and self-styled atheist, poured out his soul in lines he called "Lenten Prayer." His words touched me deeply, and I responded with lines of my own. The first lines below are from my friend's poem; my own heart's response follows.



* * *



MY FRIEND WRITES:

Verbal inspirer of clashes and jars,
of Old Testaments in the Jews
and Holy Qur'ans in the Muslims,
brothers in mutual bloody clash and jar;
Word and Wisdom rattling
contradictions in our ears,
Confusing us, confounding us,
damning us if we cannot read Greek and Hebrew;
Thou inerrant trickster of the pious mind . . . .


AND I RESPOND:

Good brother, from what well hadst thou a draught?
Not only those unlearned in Hebrew and in Greek,
but many a century of illiterate English kind
who could not scrawl their names with pen and ink
came, nonetheless, with reverence unexpressed
by eloquence of words upon a page,
and found in Him a fortress for their souls.

For God, who framed the heavens and the earth,
does not from humankind demand so much
as thy verse quoted heretofore suggests,
but looks instead for creature-hearts bowed low
as fitting is for mortals made of mud.

____________________

© 2003 Edward Fudge - Unlimited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Visit website at www.EdwardFudge.com for thousands of pages of spiritual resources. To change your address, send reply with both old and new e-mail addresses. To subscribe, send request to gracEmail@EdwardFudge.com. To unsubscribe, send reply with word "unsubscribe" in subject line.

An excerpt from the latest Family Research Council Washington Update:
The Second District Court of Appeals has ruled that Terri Schindler Schiavo should be "allowed" to die. They released the following statement after issuing their decision last week, "In the end, this case is not about the aspiration that loving parents have for their children." They continued, saying the case is about Terri Schiavo's right to make her own decision, and for judges to decide when families can't agree. Those judges would do well to remember Thomas Jefferson, who said that the chief purpose of government is to protect life. "Abandon that and you have abandoned all," he wrote. Terri has every right to live... In this era of judicial activism, courts have wrongly interpreted basic human rights to include the right to die. Lately that right to die has evolved into a duty to die, and thus, a license to kill. Rather than defend and protect the helpless among us, America has shamelessly given judicial sanction to the culture of death. Terri's parents are hoping to appeal this decision to the Florida Supreme Court.

Why America Outpaces Europe (Clue: The God Factor)

"Democrats have always been more aggressive than Republicans
in advancing their vision for the judiciary. This is no doubt
because they depend on a politicized, activist judiciary to deliver
much of their political agenda. ...Aggressive Democrats seeking
a more political judiciary and an evenly divided Senate with
several liberal Republicans make the next Supreme Court vacancy
perhaps the most important domestic leadership opportunity
for our new president. No matter what the liberal media say,
most Americans would agree that they, and not unelected judges,
should run the country and define the culture. 'We the people'
should once again mean something. If he ignores the speculators
and would-be intimidators and promotes a judiciary that follows
rather than fashions the law, Mr. Bush can truly establish a
legacy of freedom." --Thomas L. Jipping

From the Federalist e-Journal of Record, June 09, 2003

Stopping the cult of Israel. However extreme, this older article preaches a good message. Israeli extremists and Christian fundamentalists make for a pernicious pair. Grace Halsell, in her book entitled, Prophecy and Politics, constructs a lengthier argument showing that Christian Zionism is a "dangerous and growing segment of Christianity". Unfortunately, she's right. The success of the wacko Left Behind series is testimony to this. We can only hope this is a self-destructing fad..............or is it? It almost makes one embarassed to call herself a Christian these days.

Get this: the University of Michigan is now defending their discrimination practice they call "diversity" as a benefit to white students. So stop whining! Yeah, you lost your slot for law school because Sam is a couple shades darker than you, but you should smile--your absence has spiced up the color scheme at what could have been your alma mater. Forget the loss in wages you'll feel in your pocketbook for the rest of your life, you've widened the color spectrum! Ok, enough sarcasm. Read this silly story.

Are Homosexuals Just Born that Way? A Christian's perspective.

Want to learn more about an unbelievably amazing man? Take a gander at this extensive website about Benjamin Franklin.

The Bush administration is fighting terror with deportation. 13,000 illegal Arab immigrants will likely be deported in the Administration's effort at cracking down on the U.S. immigration problem, which undoubtedly poses a serious transnational security threat.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The possibility of a bad apple sneaking in among the rest of the bunch is imminent. The U.S. should waste no time sorting through the apples--even if it has to pitch some "good" ones in the process.

Does France appreciate the U.S. as much as we deserve? This website offers a sobering view of the U.S.' previous committment to France. France has forgotten our service to them, but sadly it seems many in the U.S. have also forgotten our service to them.

"There is No Such Thing As Free Speech": An Interview with Stanley Fish

"....except in a seminar-like situation, when one speaks to another person, it is usually for an instrumental purpose: you are trying to get someone to do something, you are trying to urge an idea and, down the road, a course of action. These are the reasons for which speech exists and it is in that sense that I say that there is no such thing as "free speech", that is, speech that has as its rationale nothing more than its own production." --Stanley Fish

The mysterious decline in concentrated poverty raises some interesting questions.

It seems the poor have left the urban city. Where are they going? Why?

Also of interest, it seems concentrated poverty--the share of the poor living in high-poverty neighborhoods--declined among all racial and ethnic groups, especially African Americans, whose poverty share dropped from 30% to 19% between 1990 and 2000.

I'm a liberal. Didn't you know?

A great letter to the Editor appeared in Bloomington's Herald Times today. The argument is that a blood-thirsty organization which profits millions off of the deaths of thousands of babies a year really doesn't need local government handouts.

So the sidekick wife of scandalous former President Bill Clinton lands a 1 million first ordering for her autobiography, Michael Moore's profanity-laden ranting of anti-Bush rhetoric persists on best-seller lists, and Jayson Blair, the NY times writer who turned 'journalistic integrity' into a mockery of terms, is asked to sign a book deal.

Is this representative of America's smutty quest for gossip and humor or are Americans so foolish they read this trash because they believe it?

"Democrats will trample over a thousand poor people to
throw a rock at a rich man."


--Tom Adkins of "The Common Conservative," on the
Bush tax-cut plan.