8/23/06-8/29/06

THIRTEEN SIGNS OF FASCISM 8/29/06

http://mvp-seattle.com/pages/pageFascism.htm

Link lifted from the blogroll of blogging buddy Susan M. http://360.yahoo.com/profile-shLjL8cydLYZSqR.u0WZLr_FLJxf2Ru0

spike q

Is the United States government becoming a fascist government?

Yes.

15

No.

0

Maybe.

1

What is fascism?

1

I dunno.

0

So what?

0

Too complicated an issue to be reduced to a poll.

5

We're already there.

5

UGANDAN UNREST 8/29/06

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-xE6lqiAgbqn_iZ3je4ay?p=26 is the 360 blog post of my friend quorora about something happening in Uganda. Please go check out his pages for articles that are informative and interesting. ~spike q

REP. KATHERINE HARRIS AND ISLAMIC LAW 8/28/06

Rep. Katherine Harris of Florida was the subject of a quite a few blogs lately.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39458 She was quoted in the Florida Baptist State Convention's weekly journal as saying that when christians are not elected to public office, non-christian politicians wil "legislate sin." [see: http://www.haloscan.com/comments/crooks/10019828 for a heated discussion about the article]. Would Ms. Harris have made the same comment if the majority of our elected politicians were of the Muslim faith? Or any other faith group different from her own? Something to ponder...

*****

Here's something else to think about and I bet it's something you were never taught in social studies or religious education classes: R. Joseph Hoffman, a notable scholar from Westminister College of Oxford UK [ http://www.hutch.demon.co.uk/prom/porph.htm ] said the following about Islam vs. Christianity during the Reformation and now:

Most Westerners who are not simply islamaphobes are willing to acknowledge where our system of numerical notation comes from; where algebra got started; how Aristotle was saved from puritan schoolmen in the Middle Ages; indeed, where scientific thinking in a number of disciplines originated. The culture of Islam, ranging in its missionary extent from Baghdad to Malaysia, is humanistically rich and potent. And yet. The Middle Eastern culture which spurred humanistic learining and scientific thinking remains a religious culture in a way that befuddles liberal Christians and secularists, and in a way that has not existed in the West since the decline and fall of Christendom in the Reformation. At least part of our befuddlement stems from the fact that the Reformation is often seen by historians, not as a fall or a falling apart but as a rejuvenation of Christian culture. The persistence of misperceptions about what "happened" with the advent of humanistic thinking in the late Middle Ages stems from the view that the Christian reform was a "back to basics" movement-- an attempt to restore biblical teaching and practice to the church rather than (as it was at its roots) a radical challenge to systems of religious authority, a challenge that would eventually erode even the biblical pillars of authority upon which the Reformation itself was based. Islam underwent no such change and entertained no such challenge to Koranic teaching; its pillars remained strong while those of Christianity, unknown even to those who advocated the reform of the church "in head and members," were crumbling.

Some websites which tell of great achievements by Islamics:

http://www.al-bab.com/arab/science.htm

http://www.lincoln.smmusd.org/staff/Hart_Web/history/otherislamicachievements...

http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/IGC/knowledge.htm

http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/ScienceMath/Science_and_Math.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/27/nislam127.xml...

*****

Here are five questions asked by Luc Barbulesco, Philippe Cardinal, L’Islam en questions, Vingt-quatre écrivains arabes répondent, Grasset, Paris, 1986 which I have adapted for this blog. Please insert the religion or spiritual path of your choice and answer any of the questions in the comment section or in your own blog. If you post these in your own blog, please drop me a note so I can include a trackback to your blog in future blogs:

1. Does your religion or spiritual path have universal appeal?

2. Could a modern system of government be based on your religion or spiritual path?

3. Is a system of government based on your religion or spiritual path necessary to the development of the people who follow your religion or spiritual path?

4. Is the return to basics or revival of your religion or spiritual path a positive force in the political arena of your home country? the country where you are living now if you are not living in your home country?

5. What is the principal enemy of your religion or spiritual path today?

Til next time then,

spike q

BLOGGART 8/28/06

Sanj666v over at http://360.yahoo.com/profile-vqGq6Ewieqhhq6XsX1BKBA--?cq=1 wants to know if anyone is interested in becoming part of a blogart show. That is, we would agree to post our own art, photography etc on a predetermined day and then provide a link to the next blogart gallery. If interested, please send him a message. If you cannot send him a message via his page, then send me one and I will let him know of your interest.

~spike q back from Maine

AWAY TIL SUNDAY--AUGUST 27th 8/23/06

I will be away until Sunday night and without a computer where I am going. I will leave you with three things:

A news article about a teacher burning two flags in his Louisville Kentucky classroom can be read at: http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060822/NEWS01/608... . This article was sent to me by Patti whose 360 blog can be read at: http://360.yahoo.com/profile-4A1IrYkherJiyGoCHv60IA--?cq=1 ;

A poll [below] for those of you who have read the article and want to participate;

The lyrics to Joe Hill sent to me by Opossum TreeHugger.

I first heard the song at a meeting of Students for a Democratic Society at LSU. I had been invited there by a male friend from Iran. Some time later, I had lunch with him and his roommates. They cooked a delicious soup and welcomed me. I have never forgotten that meeting of the SDS or the kindness shown to me.

Joe Hill

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead,"
"I never died," says he
"I never died," says he
"In Salt Lake, Joe," says I to him,
Him standing by my bed,
"They framed you on a murder charge,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead."

"The copper bosses killed you, Joe,
They shot you, Joe," says I.
"Takes more than guns to kill a man,"
Says Joe, "I didn't die,"
Says Joe, "I didn't die."

And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, "What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
Went on to organize."

"Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me,
"Joe Hill ain't never died.
Where working men are out on strike
Joe Hill is at their side,
Joe Hill is at their side."

"From San Diego up to Maine,
In every mine and mill,
Where workers strike and organize,"
Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill,"
Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill."

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead,"
"I never died," says he
"I never died," says he

----------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Earl Robinson, copyright 1938 by Bob Miller, Inc. Joe Hill, a great organizer and poet, was executed in 1915 on a murder charge which union circles have always considered a frame- up. This song, written in his memory, is one of the most moving of all the labor songs.

Little Red Songbook

What do you think about the teacher in Louisville Kentucky who burned flags in his classroom?

He did indeed illustrate the principles of freedom of speech.

12

He should be fired.

0

He should have cleared this with his boss first and also the parents.

1

He should face consequences for his actions but not get fired.

2

I don't know. It is up to the authorities to decide.

0

I don't care.

0

I haven't decided what I think about this incident.

2