"Growth takes place whenever a challenge evokes a successful response that, in turn, evokes a further and different challenge. We have not found any intrinsic reason why this process should not repeat itself indefinitely, even though a majority of civilizations have failed, as a matter or historical fact."
~~Arnold B. Toynbee, A Study of History
4.30.2010
4.29.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
~~Barack Obama, July 24, 2008
4.28.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"The world has changed, and we must change along with it."
~~Barack Obama, January 21, 2009
~~Barack Obama, January 21, 2009
4.27.2010
TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS - DO THEY HATE LIBERALS MORE THAN THEY LOVE LIBERTY?
A recent ‘Tea Party’ rally showed lots of anger toward President Obama, but little consistent support for liberty in America...
An Opinion piece from the Christian Science Monitor:
"Many 'tea party' activists staunchly oppose big government, except when it is warring, wiretapping, or waterboarding. A movement that started out denouncing government power apparently has no beef with some of the worst abuses of modern times.
"Unfortunately, there is scant evidence that most tea partyers have studied the copies of the Constitution they generously hand out to bystanders.
"At a Tax Day tea party in Rockville, Md., the speaking venue was draped with a huge banner: 'Tired of Big Government?' Members of the 'Tyranny Response Team' stood near the front of the rally with their official blue T-shirts. Giant American flags and ones with 'Don’t Tread on Me' (with a coiled rattlesnake) were carried around by men with tri-corn hats. Political campaigns busily sold '9/11 Remembrance' bracelets.
"And yet, the crowd of 300 seemed most outraged that the US government is not being sufficiently aggressive in using its power."
Click here for the rest of the article.
An Opinion piece from the Christian Science Monitor:
"Many 'tea party' activists staunchly oppose big government, except when it is warring, wiretapping, or waterboarding. A movement that started out denouncing government power apparently has no beef with some of the worst abuses of modern times.
"Unfortunately, there is scant evidence that most tea partyers have studied the copies of the Constitution they generously hand out to bystanders.
"At a Tax Day tea party in Rockville, Md., the speaking venue was draped with a huge banner: 'Tired of Big Government?' Members of the 'Tyranny Response Team' stood near the front of the rally with their official blue T-shirts. Giant American flags and ones with 'Don’t Tread on Me' (with a coiled rattlesnake) were carried around by men with tri-corn hats. Political campaigns busily sold '9/11 Remembrance' bracelets.
"And yet, the crowd of 300 seemed most outraged that the US government is not being sufficiently aggressive in using its power."
Click here for the rest of the article.
WHAT IF THE TEA PARTY WERE BLACK?
From Cynical-C:
Tim Wise: And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.
Zztopdog notes: Amen!
Tim Wise: And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.
Zztopdog notes: Amen!
4.25.2010
DOGS & DEVOTION
That is the name of a wonderful book about the celebration of our relationship and bond with dogs. By the Monks of New Skete, the book celebrates our dogs and the better person that they help us to become.4.20.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"If we are to make progress, we must not repeat history, but make a new history. We must add to the inheritance left by our ancestors."
~~Mahatma Gandhi
~~Mahatma Gandhi
4.06.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that change isn't possible. Don't let them tell you that speaking out and standing up against injustice is too risky. What's too risky is keeping quiet. What's too risky is looking the other way."
~~Barack Obama, 9/28/2007
~~Barack Obama, 9/28/2007
4.05.2010
WORD FOR THE DAY: SOCIALISM
From Badtux, the Snarky Penguin:
"So what is Socialism?
"Well, you listen to today's right-wing blogosphere, and it becomes clear that they haven't a clue. They appear to believe that 'Socialism' is the same thing as redistribution of wealth. By that standard, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a socialist -- he had no problem with a 90% income tax rate on the top bracket in order to redistribute wealth downward.
"The problem is, that's not what Socialist means. Socialist means that the government owns the means of production of wealth. Like when the UK nationalized Leyland Motors and called it British Leyland, or when France nationalized Citroen and Renault and made them state-owned, or when Britain nationalized the hospitals in 1948 and made them state-owned, or when Sweden nationalized its banks in 1992. That's Socialism -- the State owning major industries. Redistribution of wealth -- such as, say, taxing the rich in order to provide subsidies to the poor so that they can buy health insurance -- is plain old liberalism, which is not the same thing as socialism at all, let alone Communism, which outright outlaws private property beyond anything you can carry upon your own person.
"Words have meaning. Using words in ways that aren't applicable makes you look like an idiot to anybody who is intelligent. Which, I realize, is the minority of Americans, since 50% of Americans are below average; and average ain't so smart anymore, but still.... This ain't Freeperville, and we're a bit brighter 'round these parts :)."
-- Badtux the Liberal Penguin
"So what is Socialism?
"Well, you listen to today's right-wing blogosphere, and it becomes clear that they haven't a clue. They appear to believe that 'Socialism' is the same thing as redistribution of wealth. By that standard, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a socialist -- he had no problem with a 90% income tax rate on the top bracket in order to redistribute wealth downward.
"The problem is, that's not what Socialist means. Socialist means that the government owns the means of production of wealth. Like when the UK nationalized Leyland Motors and called it British Leyland, or when France nationalized Citroen and Renault and made them state-owned, or when Britain nationalized the hospitals in 1948 and made them state-owned, or when Sweden nationalized its banks in 1992. That's Socialism -- the State owning major industries. Redistribution of wealth -- such as, say, taxing the rich in order to provide subsidies to the poor so that they can buy health insurance -- is plain old liberalism, which is not the same thing as socialism at all, let alone Communism, which outright outlaws private property beyond anything you can carry upon your own person.
"Words have meaning. Using words in ways that aren't applicable makes you look like an idiot to anybody who is intelligent. Which, I realize, is the minority of Americans, since 50% of Americans are below average; and average ain't so smart anymore, but still.... This ain't Freeperville, and we're a bit brighter 'round these parts :)."
-- Badtux the Liberal Penguin
4.04.2010
HAPPY EASTER
"I got a chocolate rabbit
For an Easter treat,
A great big chocolate rabbit
Good enough to eat.
"So I ate his ears on Sunday,
His nose I finished Monday.
Tuesday I nibbled on his feet.
I ate his tail on Wednesday
Thursday I kept on,
By Friday he was going,
Saturday he was gone.
"Oh, I loved my chocolate rabbit
From the moment that he came,
And if I get another one,
I'll love him just the same."
~~Author Unknown
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