Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Signing Off
Monday, August 11, 2008
McCain's Buddhist Faith
as a member of a small Christian church here in Germany and interested in US and world politics I am watching the events in the United States very closely.
In this context I want to give you my honest assessment about John McCain. I have read that almost all the Evangelical congregations in the US have endorsed him. That's hard to understand.
Frankly: After I listened to John McCain several times, heard his statements and watched his encounter with the Dalai Lama on July 25 in Denver, Colorado, I have very strong reservations about any endorsement of an Atheist or Buddhist candidate who left his wife when she was disabled. There is nothing Christian in John McCain's biography.
I do not see anything in his words and deeds which is in concordance with the words of the Gospel. Absolutely nothing! I only see in John McCain hatred and Buddhist spirituality at the same time.
Look at the pictures of Denver: how the Dalai Lama took McCain's right hand and patted it repeatedly while he spoke and McCain smiled like a Buddhist acolyte. Finally John McCain removed his hand, put it to his heart and said to the Dalai Lama: THANK YOU YOUR HOLINESS.
Buddhism is surely a peaceful religion, so you may wonder why John McCain is exuding so much hatred, infirmity and confusion.
To understand this you have to know very briefly two of the most important constituents of Buddhism, metempsychosis and the concept of Vices:
first there is the idea of a transmigration of souls, metempsychosis (the current Dalai Lama is still worshipped by his followers as a semi-god, because he incarnates the souls of his predecessors) and
second there is the conception of three Buddhist 'Vices', who are driving the life of human beings on their earthly circle (this earthly circle is called 'Samsara' = 'Wheel of Life' in Buddhist religion).
As an acolyte John McCain has often gone to see the Dalai Lama for spiritual guidance.
The last time John McCain visited the Dalai Lama was on Friday, July 25. Of course McCain sought in these visitations an answer how to contain his 'Vices' who are - as he believes it - the 'Vices' of - Greed - (symbolized as a cock) - Ignorance - (symbolized as a pig) and - Hatred - (symbolized as a snake) (all according to the Buddhist religion).
If you look at John McCain's hatred, infirmity and confusion you can easily find these so called 'Vices' of Buddhism as the driving forces behind his 'Samsara' (wheel of life). But McCain's Buddhist spirituality, his aggressiveness and his hatred have absolutely NOTHING to do with Christianity.
Yours sincerely
Video (Washington Post) of the encounter of the Dalai Lama and John McCain in Denver, July 25:
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans
February 27, 2007
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1)
acknowledges that slavery is incompatible with the basic founding
principles recognized in the Declaration of Independence that all men
are created equal;
(2) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow;
(3)
apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the people of the United
States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who
suffered under slavery and Jim Crow; and
(4) expresses its
commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds
committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to
stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.
Full text of bill - it's short.
Why many Americans perfer their Sundays segregated
Our First Kiva Loan is Repaid
Olympics on Google
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
USDA Organic Fraud
announced on August 5th that 15 of the 30 accredited organic certifiers
they recently inspected failed the USDA audit and will have 12 months
to make corrections or lose their accreditation with the NOP. It is
clear that there are numerous violations of organic standards taking
place in the U.S. and across the world. (Read the August 5 NOP Audit
Report here)
Rest of the OCA article here.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Organic Foods Priority
McCain's Funny Alright
American Life Drops $1 M
Instead, economists calculate the value based on what people are
willing to pay to avoid certain risks, and on how much extra employers
pay their workers to take on additional risks. Most of the data is
drawn from payroll statistics; some comes from opinion surveys.
According to the EPA, people shouldn't think of the number as a price
tag on a life.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Email A to Z
Email Test
Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World
Now this is not a great documentary. It's low-tech. I wish there were a filtered version that included the 30-45 minutes most valuable of the 90 minute total production.
Does anybody know anything about Stevia? Apparently the FDA won't look at it...
If you're still eating foods containing the artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, diet drinks, etc.), you need to watch this documentary. Aspartame was approved for widespread use in the U.S. in July of 1983. Within six months, brain tumor rates climbed 10%, diabetes went up 30% and brain lymphoma tumors skyrocketed 60%. Learn how this toxic chemical was scandalously approved by the FDA and is now one of the most widespread food additives in the U.S.
Watch it now: http://www.organicconsumers.
Habitat for Humanity Investment
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL OFFERS INVESTMENT-BASED INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT HOUSE-BUILDING PROJECTS
Investment Program with Calvert Foundation creates an additional way to help finance Habitat’s Work
ATLANTA and BETHESDA, Md. (July 24, 2008) —Habitat for Humanity International and Calvert Social Investment Foundation today announced the launch of the Habitat for Humanity Investment Program, which will enable people to support Habitat for Humanity as they make affordable housing part of their investment portfolio.
Facilitated through Calvert Foundation’s Community Investment Note, the program provides a means for individuals and other nonprofits to invest their money into a fund that directly benefits Habitat for Humanity. The notes start at a $1,000 minimum (when purchased directly from Calvert Foundation – www.calvertfoundation.org/
The notes may be invested for one, three, five, seven or 10 years, and investors choose to earn an interest rate up to 2 percent. The full value of the principal is then loaned to Habitat for Humanity, enabling Habitat to obtain access to low-cost, flexible capital, which then will be used to serve more families and build houses at a faster rate.
At maturity, investors may collect the principal and interest accrued, or they may reinvest to support Habitat and help provide a sustainable solution to fighting poverty. Investors also have the option of making a tax-deductible donation of their interest to Habitat for Humanity.
“The vast need for decent, affordable housing in our world means that we have to be creative in our response to it, while staying true to Habitat’s mission,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “This exciting opportunity with Calvert Foundation will generate more capital to help further that mission. As supporters invest in the Habitat Investment Program, we will be able to strengthen our capacity, which, in turn, will allow us to invest in more families as together we build simple, decent homes worldwide.”
Calvert Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that raises investment capital through individuals and institutions and uses the funds to provide affordable loans to nonprofit organizations, issues the Community Investment Notes. Calvert Foundation has raised more than $140 million over the last 12 years through similar Community Investment Note programs and has helped build more than 12,500 affordable homes.
“We are so pleased to work with Habitat for Humanity on this investment initiative,” said Shari Berenbach, president and CEO of Calvert Foundation. “For over a decade, Calvert Foundation has worked hard to show the world how powerful investment can be for helping nonprofits thrive and grow. The Habitat Investment Program will make a meaningful impact forMaybe Bush is not Batman
But ultimately this film is about society's desire for a
scapegoat. "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself
become the villain," say at least two of the characters, and it
climaxes with Batman on the run from the authorities because people
have started to blame him for what is wrong with their lives. In this
regard, the film ends on a note that either satirizes or endorses the
view that George W. Bush has been a shining hero, defending the free
world from masked evil. I tend to think that the film comes down on the
side of the angels rather than the hawks, in the way it raises the
prospect that violence meeting violence produces only more violence.
Indeed, the most hopeful and heroic act in the whole story comes from
one of the men in an orange jumpsuit. But these things can be read a
number of ways, and I could be wrong. In fact, I'm pretty sure that in
spite of the film's extraordinary quality, the politics of The Dark Knight are so subtle that this movie will be a great comfort to President Bush in his retirement.
National Housing Trust Fund
We did it!
Months ago, we began fighting for vulnerable families and communities hardest hit by the housing crisis in America.
Today, we can celebrate.
After the Senate and House passed a sweeping housing relief bill, President Bush signed the bill into law earlier this week. This is a major victory, particularly given that the new law contains 100 percent of the provisions we have been fighting for - including $4 billion in neighborhood stabilization funding and the national housing trust fund.
The compassion and dedication of Habitat for Humanity supporters like you helped make this possible. Congress made this legislation a top priority because, together, we stood up for this important bill and the families it will serve.
This is a huge victory for families and communities across America caught up in one of the worst housing crises in our country's history. Your support is truly making a difference.
Thank you again for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Obama on Faith Based and Community Initiatives
Media Group's president and founder, Cameron Strang on July 1. Full
text available here.
Strang: For a variety of reasons,
Congress wouldn’t support President Bush’s Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives. Why do you feel they’ll support your plan?
Obama: Based on the assessment of those who actually worked on
this in the Bush White House, part of the problem was that the Bush
Administration had a tendency to maybe politicize the office
unnecessarily. And I think that’s a mistake. I think you really have to
have an attitude that this is a program designed to help all comers,
not just those who supported you politically.
The second thing is that there has to be some very clear criteria and
accountability in these programs. I don’t think taxpayers want their
money wasted, whether it’s a faith-based or a secular program, so we’ve
got to be able to document success in whatever programs are funded.
We also want to train more sophisticated groups—the big megachurch or
Catholic Charities—to work with the small storefronts, or the synagogue
or mosque that doesn’t have as much know-how, in applying for federal
funds to be able to participate. So I think that if we make it broad,
if we have clear standards and clear principles governing the program,
if it’s not perceived as being an extension of politics but rather a
way to ensure services get to the people who need them, then I think we
can generate support from Congress.
Strang: Your plan specifically prohibits discriminatory hiring
policies based on religion. Don't you think faith-based organizations
that would otherwise want to join this program would bristle at the
limitation that they can’t hire a staff that reflects their
organization’s values?
Obama: I think it’s important to distinguish between people who
are hired as part of a church to carry out that church’s mission or
ministries, or administer the church. There’s always a religious
exemption there from Title VII. It’s important for us to make sure that
a Christian church can hire Christians or a Jewish church can hire
people of the Jewish faith. That’s different from programs that are
specifically funded by the federal government and offered to the public.
I’m going to have my Council on Faith-Based Partnerships review all our
policies, review relevant law and regulations, executive orders and
court cases. But the simple principle is that we should not
discriminate against faith-based organizations in being able to carry
out terrific programs [funded] by the federal government, but we want
to make sure that those programs are run in a nondiscriminatory manner.
And that’s not going to encroach on the ability of those faith-based
organizations to do what they need to do when it comes to their core
religious mission. They are going to be able to hire and carry out
those functions of a church, or synagogue, mosque or temple, but they
can also participate in federal programs as long as those are done in a
way that is not encroaching on a separation of church and state, is
open to the public and is not involved in proselytizing.
Strang: Not being able to proselytize through a program that receives funding—how would that be enforced?
Obama: You know, the truth of the matter is, a lot of
faith-based organizations currently are doing a great job on this
issue, and they recognize that when they are administering federal
funds, their priority has to be to provide high-quality services and
they are not interested in discriminating or proselytizing. Obviously,
there may be some who try to use these funds in inappropriate ways, but
I think that’s the tiny minority of those who really just want to serve
their communities and do the right thing.
Obama on Abortion
Strang: Based on emails we
received, another issue of deep importance to our readers is a
candidate’s stance on abortion. We largely know your platform,
but there seems to be some real confusion about your position on
third-trimester and partial-birth abortions. Can you clarify your
stance for us?
Obama: I absolutely can, so please don’t believe the emails. I
have repeatedly said that I think it’s entirely appropriate for states
to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a
strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I
don’t think that “mental distress” qualifies as the health of the
mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in
pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother
carrying that child to term. Otherwise, as long as there is such a
medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term
abortions.
The other email rumor that’s been floating around is that somehow I’m
unwilling to see doctors offer life-saving care to children who were
born as a result of an induced abortion. That’s just false. There was a
bill that came up in Illinois that was called the “Born Alive” bill
that purported to require life-saving treatment to such infants. And I
did vote against that bill. The reason was that there was already a law
in place in Illinois that said that you always have to supply
life-saving treatment to any infant under any circumstances, and this
bill actually was designed to overturn Roe v. Wade, so I didn’t think
it was going to pass constitutional muster.
Ever since that time, emails have been sent out suggesting that,
somehow, I would be in favor of letting an infant die in a hospital
because of this particular vote. That’s not a fair characterization,
and that’s not an honest characterization. It defies common sense to
think that a hospital wouldn't provide life-saving treatment to an
infant that was alive and had a chance of survival.
Strang: You’ve said you’re personally against abortion and would
like to see a reduction in the number of abortions under your
administration. So, as president, how would do you propose
accomplishing that?
Obama: I think we know that abortions rise when unwanted
pregnancies rise. So, if we are continuing what has been a promising
trend in the reduction of teen pregnancies, through education and
abstinence education giving good information to teenagers. That is
important—emphasizing the sacredness of sexual behavior to our
children. I think that’s something that we can encourage. I think
encouraging adoptions in a significant way. I think the proper role of
government. So there are ways that we can make a difference, and those
are going to be things I focus on when I am president.