One of the questions in a survey taken recently gave me a rare opportunity to try to summarize the major difference for me between the Democrat and Republican parties. The biggest difference for me has long been the R's reluctance and even refusal to develop and fund social programs. A quick look at history, even from an under-educated point of view, tells us that most countries/empires fall to civil unrest stemming from vast gaps in social status. A few haves controlling the mostly have-nots. Even when the have-nots did not openly rebel, low morale bred lack of support in times of national need leading to the downfall of many civilizations.In the few moments I took to ponder my answer for the survey, I considered how religion has been playing it's role in the last few presidential elections. How it seems the R's have claimed religion as theirs. How this seems strange to me, the R's have never been the 'go to guys' in my mind for 'turning the other cheek' or 'forgiving one's trespass'. Then I suddenly had my one word answer. The biggest difference between the parties, for me, is Charity.
I had long been perplexed at governments failure to learn from the past, especially since it has repeated so many times, but now found myself appalled with the realization that so many R's wave the Christian Banner without representing main Christian values. Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers for the injustice. He gave aid and comfort to those others would not approach. I was reminded of Isaiah recently and the following seems almost to have been written in explanation of my issue with the R's waving the Christian flag:
Isaiah 15
9 When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood!
16
Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil;
17
learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.
18
Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.
19
If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land;
20
But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
21
10 How has she turned adulteress, the faithful city, so upright! Justice used to lodge within her, but now, murderers.
22
Your silver is turned to dross, your wine is mixed with water.
23
Your princes are rebels and comrades of thieves; Each one of them loves a bribe and looks for gifts. The fatherless they defend not, and the widow's plea does not reach them.
24
Now, therefore, says the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will take vengeance on my foes and fully repay my enemies!
25
I will turn my hand against you, and refine your dross in the furnace, removing all your alloy.
26
I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as in the beginning; After that you shall be called city of justice, faithful city.
27
11 Zion shall be redeemed by judgment, and her repentant ones by justice.
I'm not a religious person, I'm barely spiritual, and don't believe religion has a place in politics especially US politics. We have a near perfect list of rules to work with that make it so whatever your religion we can live together fairly and safely with the same opportunity. If you fly a religious banner at me I'm going to expect you to live up to your claim, and R's, you have a bit of work to do.
332 Landslide
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
February 9, 2008
Isaiah 1:15
January 19, 2008
Matching Dollars through Dec 31st to Save the Turtles
Not because we don't have enough caring people like you to watch but because in just a few years there may not be a single Pacific Leatherback Turtle left to race.
The future for Pacific Leatherback Turtles has reached a critical point. To save these wonderful animals, we need your help now.
After 10 million years of survival making it past dinosaurs, meteors, droughts, floods, tsunamis it's humans that threaten their lives. Their nesting areas are ruthlessly being swallowed up by developments … their breeding grounds polluted and their fragile lives threatened by reckless fishing techniques and the careless dumping of plastic bags that their innocent little eyes see as a life-sustaining jellyfish.
In fact, scientists predict Pacific Leatherback Turtles could be extinct in just 10 years. I don't need to tell you that losing a single species affects our whole planet.
But you can help save the lives of Pacific Leatherback Turtles and all endangered species simply by making a donation today. Your generous year end, tax deductible donation of $10, $20 or even $50 will help Conservation International protect breeding and nesting areas so the Pacific Leatherback Turtles might flourish again. Conservation International, with our partners The Leatherback Trust and Tagging of Pacific Predators, is working right now to protect these charismatic animals.
Donate before December 31st and your donation is worth twice as much! Now is the perfect time to donate because our board members Harrison Ford and Jeff Gale and Chairman’s Council Member Jane Greenspun Gale are matching all donations dollar for dollar up to the $5 million challenge limit. That means when you make a year end, tax deductible donation of $10, the Pacific Leatherback Turtles and other endangered species get $20 … give $25 and a happy Pacific Leatherback and his friends get $50.
The important thing is to act now. Once an endangered species like the Pacific Leatherbacks are gone there's nothing we can do to bring them back. That's why protection right now is urgent. Donate today and you'll be helping us ensure that these gentle giants and their friends are around for another 10,000,000 years.
I can't thank you enough for your generosity.
The future for Pacific Leatherback Turtles has reached a critical point. To save these wonderful animals, we need your help now.
After 10 million years of survival making it past dinosaurs, meteors, droughts, floods, tsunamis it's humans that threaten their lives. Their nesting areas are ruthlessly being swallowed up by developments … their breeding grounds polluted and their fragile lives threatened by reckless fishing techniques and the careless dumping of plastic bags that their innocent little eyes see as a life-sustaining jellyfish.
In fact, scientists predict Pacific Leatherback Turtles could be extinct in just 10 years. I don't need to tell you that losing a single species affects our whole planet.
But you can help save the lives of Pacific Leatherback Turtles and all endangered species simply by making a donation today. Your generous year end, tax deductible donation of $10, $20 or even $50 will help Conservation International protect breeding and nesting areas so the Pacific Leatherback Turtles might flourish again. Conservation International, with our partners The Leatherback Trust and Tagging of Pacific Predators, is working right now to protect these charismatic animals.
Donate before December 31st and your donation is worth twice as much! Now is the perfect time to donate because our board members Harrison Ford and Jeff Gale and Chairman’s Council Member Jane Greenspun Gale are matching all donations dollar for dollar up to the $5 million challenge limit. That means when you make a year end, tax deductible donation of $10, the Pacific Leatherback Turtles and other endangered species get $20 … give $25 and a happy Pacific Leatherback and his friends get $50.
The important thing is to act now. Once an endangered species like the Pacific Leatherbacks are gone there's nothing we can do to bring them back. That's why protection right now is urgent. Donate today and you'll be helping us ensure that these gentle giants and their friends are around for another 10,000,000 years.
I can't thank you enough for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Vinnie Wishrad Director, Community and Membership Conservation International
________________________________________________________________________________
You may contact us anytime by emailing community@conservation.org or writing to: 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 Call us toll free within the US at 1-800-406-2306 or (703) 341-2400.
________________________________________________________________________________
You may contact us anytime by emailing community@conservation.org or writing to: 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 Call us toll free within the US at 1-800-406-2306 or (703) 341-2400.
Friday December 28, 2007 - 12:23pm (PST)
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The Center for Public Integrity
The 380,000-plus-word database presented here allows, for the first time, the Iraq-related public pronouncements of top Bush administration officials to be tracked on a day-by-day basis against their private assessments and the actual “ground truth” as it is now known. Throughout the database, passages containing false statements by the top Bush administration officials are highlighted in yellow. The 935 false statements in the database may also be accessed by selecting the “False Statements” option from the “Subject” pull-down menu and may be displayed within selected date ranges using the selection tool below. Searches may also be limited by person or subject, or both, by using the appropriate selections from the pull-down menus.
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