Persecution - Overt/Subtle

In a posting earlier today about Said Musa, a Christian in Afghanistan, that is clearly being persecuted for his Christian faith, I intentionally made a concluding comment as follows:

Persecution of Christians, Catholic or Protestant, takes many forms. This is the most overt form, though the criticism that fundamentalist Christians level against Catholics and their faith is little different, just not as violent.


It has the same root cause, ignorance, and the determination to be right at the expense of others freedoms and beliefs.

My comment begat a particular response from Small Town Guy over at Father Tim Moyle's blog where I put a link to it, as I expected it would. It became all about him, and about his excuses for behaviour that is unpleasant at least, persecution at worst. 

I have been contending for some time that systematic highjacking of a Catholic blog by a fundamentalist claiming to be a Christian, wherein he makes fatuous claims about the Catholic Church, quoting his interpretation of the Bible, as well as presenting as fact the writings of Lorraine Boettner, Jack Chick, and now even Avro Manhattan, is a form of persecution.

Well, as expected STG has his own take on it as follows:

Unfortunately Michael sees any comments which are critical of RC teaching, doctrines, or the dark side of RC history as "persecution" and brands it as persecution of the same kind as the tragic real persecution of christians as in this article, only without the violence.


I don't think he really understands freedom of speech or the meaning of the word persecution if he throws the word around so easily. I could ask if he thinks it was right or persecution for a Danish newspaper to publish cartoons of Islam's prophet with a bomb tied to his headcloth?

If one believes in freedom of speech for himself, he should be willing to allow others to have the same right even if he disagrees with the comments, without crying persecution. Can he disagree? Yes of course.

Well, let's see if STG has grounds for his response.  Let's start with the definition of persecution.  Persecution means:

1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.

2. To annoy persistently; bother.

Now, if I go on to a fundamentalist blog, and participate in a dialogue on equal footing with those there on say, the Real Presence in the Eucharist, where I express Catholic teaching as documented, and accept that that is not what our Protestant brothers and sisters believe, then there is not likely any persecution in that.  Difference of opinion is not persecution.

If however, I go to their blog site, and consistently hijack postings about topic A and turn them into my own fatuous ramblings about the truth of the Bible, and how those there don't get it, maybe we are moving into another arena, the arena of persecution.

That is ill treatment in my humble opinion, based solely on religion, and it also fits definition two, as I am both bothered by it and find it annoying with persistence.  Persecution has less to do with the persecutor than it does with the one or ones being persecuted.  I have very little credibility to say I am not persecuting you, whereas you as the recipient of my venom are the only one who can readily determine if persecution has occurred.

STG threw in the "freedom of speech" thing.  In other words, it is his humble opinion that he can say whatever he wants because in this country (both Canada and the USA) we have laws that protect freedom of speech.

That would be a good point if that were all there is.  With freedom of speech comes responsibility for the speech that we communicate.  But, if you cannot police yourself, in Canada, we have the Canadian Human Rights Act, and similar law in each of the provinces and territories.  The Canadian Act has a section, Section 13, that deals with abuse of free speech as follows:

13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.


Interpretation

(2) For greater certainty, subsection (1) applies in respect of a matter that is communicated by means of a computer or a group of interconnected or related computers, including the Internet, or any similar means of communication, but does not apply in respect of a matter that is communicated in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a broadcasting undertaking.

So, here's the deal.  If I consider that STG has been exposing Father Tim, and all Catholics who hang out at his blog, to hatred or contempt on the grounds of religious discrimination, I have the freedom to file a claim with the Canadian HRC.  By the way, I can file a claim with the Canadian Human Rights Commission even if I personally do not feel injured by his ramblings.

In reality, I am also free to not read what he writes, and to ignore it for what it is.  So, usually as soon as I see that he has written a comment on the blog, I move right past it, after checking for key words.  That is the higher ground.  It does not make what he is doing any less of a persecution, but it is a higher ground, and really the one we as Christians are called to. 

Of course, we as Christians are also not called to pretend that we are more righteous than others of God's children, but that's another story.

Packers 31 Steelers 25

Call me Surprised!!

I live in London, Ontario much of the year, and Tucson Arizona during the winter.  So, I didn't really have a dog in the fight, or even a football team.  But, two really good teams played a whale of a game last night for the Lombardi Trophy, and it is making its way back to Green Bay, where Vince Lombardi made his name as former coach of the Packers.

But, for many watchers the highlights are the $100,000 a second commercials that were shown for the first time during the game.  $3,000,000 smackers for 30 seconds of eyeball time.  WOW!!

Since Apple finished their series of Mac/PC commercials a year or so ago, my favourites have been the eTrade baby commercials.  This morning I found this video of the out takes from the eTrade cutting room floor.  Actually the cutting room floor is where most of them belonged.

A Father Daughter Discussion

Liberals vs. Conservatives/Democrats vs. Republicans
The following arrived in my email inbox today, and I find it interesting.  It is a perspective, as is the quote from Margaret Thatcher and link to a NY Post article about Liberal Myths, and the truth about them.

What I found even more interesting was Father Clement Agamba's final prayer at the 7 am Mass at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton this morning.  It was a prayer for peace, including peace between and among Democrats and Republicans, something that might be easier for him as a Ghanan citizen and me as a Canadian citizen to pray for than for the local citizenry.

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very Liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in Favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other Words redistribution of wealth.


She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the Lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.


One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to Higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to Be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by Asking how she was doing in school.


Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that She was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people She knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends, because she spent all her time studying.


Her father listened and then asked , 'How is your friend Audrey doing?' She replied, ' Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are Easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She Is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'


Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA, and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.' The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'


The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to The Republican party.' If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat I'm all ears.


If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!


If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.


If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat..
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for
everyone.


If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.


If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.


If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.


If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.
(Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)


If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have
a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".

Here are the other two items a quote from the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, and a link to a NY Post article.

Margaret Thatcher, the former Conservative Prime Minister of Great Britain said in a TV interview for Thames TV This Week on Feb. 5, 1976, "...and Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They [socialists] always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."


You might find the linked article from the NY Post interesting titled Liberal Myths vs. Reality.

Patience and Wisdom

In my life, I have learned that among the most important qualities in a person are patience and wisdom.

Patience for me has come after many hard lessons.  In fact, God, in His patience and wisdom finally had to hit me in the back of the head with a Ford Aerostar van over 7 years ago.  Patience for me became not an option.  I wish that I had been able to learn patience another way, but I am grateful that He loves me enough to teach me patience inspite of my long term impatience.

Wisdom is a whole other matter.  Many of us possess tons of knowledge.  A life lived will give you that.  For many of us, our knowledge has been limited.  At 60 years of age, do I have 1 year of experience 60 times, or 60 years of experience?  But, wisdom is not just about what you know.  There is wisdom in knowing what you do not know, and even more can be found in not knowing what you don't know.

Here is a humorous pictorial example of wisdom and patience.  Works for me.

It's A Small World After All

One of the activities here at Rincon Country West where I am wintering (and waiting for the arrival of My Dear Wife) is a game called Pickle Ball.  No pickles are harmed during the game at all.  It happened that Pickles was the name of the dog of the guy who invented the game.  The first time I played it a couple of years ago, I came back to our motor home then, and MDW asked me what Pickle Ball was.  I told her then that it was tennis for seniors.  Think badminton court, with a tennis height net, paddle ball like paddle, and a whiffle ball.  Somehow it all works and we get some exercise and have a few laughs.  Some of the laughs revolve around trying to remember the score.
Pickle Ball starts on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings about 8:30 and goes to about 11:00.  About being the operative word.  People wander in, wander out (or maybe get lost), and so it is a bit fluid.

So, yesterday morning I arrived shortly after 8:30 and a first game was just starting up, and they were short 1 player.  As I stepped on to the court, the chap that I was going to be playing with was new.  At least I had not seen him before.  So, as per usual, I asked his name (Dave) and where he was from.  He said "Canada".  I responded by asking him where in Canada he had come from.  He looked at me like I would have no idea if he told me, but then he said: "London Ontario."  I said that was where I was from.  Turns out he was from south London, though he and his wife are full time RVer's now. 

In the it's a small world vein, there is a couple at the end of our street from London, Ontario as well. They have been here off and on for 12 years, and though we have been here for 4 years, we had never seen them before.

Also, beside our place here there is a Ford truck parked with Alberta plates, and behind our place is a trailer and truck with Alberta plates as well.

Of the people playing pickle ball, almost 1/3 were Canadians.  And in the whole park, there seems to be a larger contingent coming here every year.  To come here from Alberta takes a while but it is a straight southbound shot.  If you come from the east, you gotta wanna be here.

A friend from Montana was telling me the other day that how he knew it was chilly here was that he saw a Canadian put on socks.  I was in sandals at the time, and it was about 7C here that day.  (It's only 2C now at 8:30 am, but will get to 17C today, but I'm not gloating.)

Winter Is Over For Me (Or Is It?)

Back In Arizona

After 3 hard days of driving, I have arrived in Tucson Arizona.  Since My Dear Wife was unable to make the planned trip at this time, and we had to close on the purchase of our park model trailer by December 31, I had to come alone. 

Since I was alone, I decided to put peddle to the metal and get here where it was warm.  I had the Catholic Channel on XM Radio for company, but more on that later.  I got to Saint Louis, the first night, Amarillo the second and Tucson yesterday afternoon.  My body is on Ontario (EST) time, and my mind is somewhere in the Midwest, but some part of me is here in front of the keyboard on Thursday morning December 30, 2010 in Tucson, AZ.

But, I arrived in one of the sunniest places in North America to see rain, and a temperature in the upper 40s Fahrenheit.  When I got into Oklahoma, and beyond, I saw NO SNOW.  Last night here in the Tucson area, there was a blizzard warning for Mount Lemon, which is about a half hour drive from the edge of the city.  They were talking about the possibility of snow here in the city.  Tucson has 350 sunny days a year.  Yesterday was not one of them, and today does not look good either. 

Temps here won't exceed 54 for the next 3 days, though tomorrow and Saturday it will at least be sunny.  Then HEAT WAVE!!

In London Ontario, it will get to 39 tomorrow.  Global Warming in Southern Ontario.  Global Cooling in Southern Arizona.  Not to Worry!!

Aside from missing my best friend, lover and wife (all in one) I am glad to be here though, and looking forward to settling into our park model today and tomorrow, and preparing for herself to arrive in a few weeks, after she sees her doctors and heads to Calgary to visit with our newest grandchild Charlotte, and her beautiful siblings Sam and Emilia, and their parents, Katie and Marc.  While I wait for her to come, I will just have to enjoy the warmer climate of the south for the winter.

On my journey here, I listened to 3 days of Catholic radio on the Catholic Channel on Sirius/XM satellite radio, which I really enjoy for its uplifting nature, and for the ability that the on air personalities have of sharing the Gospel in even the simple, humorous or mundane things of life.  As it is Christmas, the on air folks, Gus Lloyd on Seize the Day from 6-10am EST, Greg and Jennifer Willits — The Catholics Next Door! from 10am-1pm, Bob Dunning,  Lino Rulli, and Father Dave Dwyer going on until the evening, had repeats of earlier shows. The shows were still enjoyable, and I even enjoyed the excerpts that I had heard before.

My personal favourite show is Seize the Day, which Gus hosts from his home in Tampa Florida, and now that I am in AZ, it comes on at 4 am our time here, so I will miss most or all of it.  Gus was the original recipient of the Drain Me of Me prayer over on the left of the blog here.  He is a very knowledgeable apologist for the Catholic faith, and has Cd's available on his web site that are very insightful for Catholics trying to understand and live their faith better.   His personal web site is guslloyd.com.

Greg and Jennifer Willits host the Catholics Next Door in the late morning eastern time from a suburb of Atlanta Georgia.  Their love for each other, and their 5 children is only superseded by their love of Our Saviour.  Their sharing of the faith, and their lives is a blessing to listeners.  Their personal web site is gregandjennifer.com/. 

One of their guests on the repeat show yesterday was Fr. Leo Patalinghug, a wild and crazy Catholic priest, with a flair for cooking and teaching the Gospel through food as an analogy.  He too has his own web site Grace Before Meals.

To all who prayed for my safe travels, thank you.  To all of you readers, may God Bless You abundantly this day, that He has made.

Suzy at the Mall

Modern Version of Casey at the Bat From Theater of the Word.

The Philosophy of Ambiguity

Idiosyncrasies of the English Language

My friend Bob Starks sent me these things to ponder recently.  Don't think too deeply on them.  Your head might explode.

1. DON'T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON'T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.
2. ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR.
3. ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.
4. IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS AND APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS AND APES?
5. CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?
6. I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, "WHERE'S THE SELF- HELP SECTION?" SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.
7. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?
8. IF A DEAF CHILD SIGNS SWEAR WORDS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?
9. IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?
10. IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?
11. WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?"
12. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?
13. IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?
14. WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?
15. WHY DO THEY LOCK PETROL STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?
16. IF A TURTLE DOESN'T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?
17. CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?
18. IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?
19. WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?
20. HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?
21. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?
22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE..
23. DOES THE LITTLE MERMAID WEAR AN ALGEBRA?
24. IF YOU SPIN AN ORIENTAL PERSON IN A CIRCLE THREE TIMES, DO THEY BECOME DISORIENTED?
25. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?
26. IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?
27. IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?
28. IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?
29. WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD 'LISP' TO HAVE 'S' IN IT?
30. WHY ARE HEMORRHOIDS CALLED "HEMORRHOIDS" INSTEAD OF "ASSTEROIDS"?
31. WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN'T SHOOT AT THEM?
32. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

So I Was Going to Drive Over to the Corner For Some Milk

But That Would be a Challenge


As you can see, well you can't see really, our car that has the snow tires on it (Our Ontario Car) is parked on our driveway, I think.  At least, I think we have a driveway.  Last time I saw it on Saturday, we had a driveway.

Here in London, Ontario, we have what is called "lake effect" snow from time to time. Usually it hits about 30 miles east of us at Woodstock, and it did there too. But, we have about 3 feet of it and London is officially closed for business for the day, actually about the second day in a row.  Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Ontario were reported last night to have had a "trace" of snow.

Well, there was a driveway there a few days ago.  In fact, last night it was plowed by our snow plowing friend.

But, it is beautiful looking out our back window at the park beyond our fence.

So, My Dear Wife and I are hunkered down (without milk - oh the sacrifices we must make).  She is playing Christmas music, this being her favourite musical time of the year.  Another sacrifice is that we loaned our Christmas movies (all 15 of them) to two of our daughters last night, who braved the elements to come and check up on us.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Advent in preparation for Christmas.

But, in three weeks, My Dear Wife and I will be on the road, if we can find it, heading to a warmer (snow free) winter in Tucson Arizona.

The scene outside our windows is gorgeous, and I really do like it, and it will be nice for us that we only get to enjoy it for one month, instead of five.

Currier and Ives have nothing on us today.

A Dandy One is Gone

Turn Out The Lights the Party's Over

You may remember Dandy Don Meredith, onetime quarterback of America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, and former boradcaster on Monday Night Football.

He passed away from a brain hemhorrage on Sunday.  He is remembered for many things but this line from a Willie Nelson song was his trademark when broadcasting a blowout.

One Man's Take On Technology And the Older Generation

Oops That Includes Me

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up (under duress), for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it,

And I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.

I was recently asked if I tweet.I answered, "No...but I do toot a lot."

RE Pent

Ever Wonder What it Means?

Catholics and other Christians particularly are familiar with the concept of repentance, or are we?

The word repent is defined as follows:

1. to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often fol. by of ): He repented after his thoughtless act.



2. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.

But why not just pent?  Why RE?

Well, the origin of the word "repent" is the Latin word paenitere (to regret, be sorry), which morphed to the Middle English pentir (to feel sorrow), and the prefix "re".  "Re" comes from Latin, and is used to mean “again” or “again and again”.

So, from the original words, repent means to be sorry or regretful again and again.

So, repenting is feeling sorry each time that our conduct requires contrition, no matter how often, and no matter what new ways we find to conduct ourselves in ways that we know are wrong.

Hmmm!!

Remembrance Day

Remember Them In Our Thoughts and Prayers (and Music)


Today we celebrate the men and women who offer themselves in service to their brothers and sisters through their vocation in the military.  Many have given the ultimate sacrifice, dying so others may live.


My father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII, as a Spitfire pilot.  I have the privilege of having in my possession his flight logs, and some other paraphernalia, inculding his air force tunic jacket, things that remind me of how much he meant to me, and what his service meant to so many others.


Whether or not you agree about a specific mission that our brave fighting men and women undertake, or even about their mission in general, they are being obedient to leadership and putting themselves in harm's way for reasons that they believe to be honourable. 


We honour them for their courage to put their money where their mouths are, where many of us are lacking.  They are a witness in their commitment to service.


May God Bless Them all and return those who are away home safe and sound to their loved ones.


Maybe you remember S. Sgt. Barry Sadler and the Ballad of the Green Beret from 1966.

Cardinals Decline to Name Starting Quarterback

Ever Have a Duh Moment?

I was looking at some of the Catholic blogs that I follow a few minutes ago, and had just scanned some of the interesting things on Father Tim Moyle's blog "Where the Rubber Hits the Road." 

Returning to my own Yahoo Home Page, I saw the heading "Cardinals Decline to Name Starting Quarterback."  This caused me momentary confusion, as the Cardinals in my mind at the moment had selected Benedict (you know the guy that wears #16 - like Joe Montana did in his 49ers heyday) as their quarterback a few years ago.

Then I realised that the heading was under NFL football, and was about the other Cardinals, the ones from my winter home state of Arizona.

There is a limit to how smart you can be, but there is no limit to how dumb you can be.

Sorry for the light patter lately.  I am still not caught up from my recent travels.

Canadian Hockey Fanatics Start Early

I Went to the Fights and a Hockey Game Broke Out.

My friend Dr. Gerry McKeon, a diehard Leafs fan, sent me this picture.  I note that, as usual, it looks like the Maple Leaf is getting pummelled.  Not that we are counting, but it is now 44 years since they hoisted the Cup, other than the one that forms part of their equipment.

I assume that he has sent it along to our friend Howie Greene, born in Montreal over 60 years ago, who still bleeds at Center Hice.

Toying with the English Language

From My Friend Dr. Gerry McKeon Ph.D. - retired with too much time on his hands

My long time friend, the smartest man that I know sent me this in email this morning.  Clearly in retirement he needs a hobby.  They are witticisms and half witticisms, with the odd nit witticism for good measure.  Enjoy:

Those who jump off a bridge in Paris, are in Seine.

A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.


Shotgun wedding.  A case of wife or death.


A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.


A hangover is the wrath of grapes.


Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.


Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.


When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.


A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.


What's the definition of a will?  It's a dead give away.


Time flies like an arrow.  Fruit flies like a banana.


In democracy your vote counts.  In feudalism your count votes.


She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.


A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.


If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.


The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.


Local Area Network in Australia - the LAN down under.


Every calendar's days are numbered.


A lot of money is tainted - Taint yours and taint mine.


A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.


He had a photographic memory that was never developed.


A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.


Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.


Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.


Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.


Acupuncture is a jab well done.

On the Road

I will be on the road back to London, Ontario from Tucson Arizona for the next several days.  All prayers gratefully accepted.

God Bless all who pass by here.

Asking for Directions

From Friend (?) Bob Starks

Below is a video of a spoof involving a Canada Post driver asking for directions of a passerby on the street.  The driver has kinda gone to the dogs, but you goota watch.

Our friend Bob Starks here at Rincon Country West old folks home (RV resort for over 55's) said when he sent it that it "may offer a clue as to why "your people" need a special section at Rincon." 

Should I be offended, or rest in the knowledge that the people who were pranked by the video were probably all American tourists to Canada?

Tolerance - Lest We Forget

My Patience for Tolerance Has Diminished As Tolerance Has Morphed But I/We Are Not Alone

Monsignor Charles Pope, over at the Archdiocese of Washington has written cogently on the subject of "Tolerance" here.

I am about toleranced out here in Canada, as tolerance is being defined by the well meaning but left leaning wingnuts, and as I spend many months of the year in the US, can see that it is also becoming a serious problem in America.  In my view, Monsignor Pope is ahead of the curve in the US, and about a decade late for those of us here in Canada, who have to tolerate more wing nuttery than you can shake a stick at.

In case the words are too big for you, the good Monsignor had a youTube video from Theater of the Word Inc. at the end of his commentary, and I have linked it below as well.  It summarises the situation.

Permit me a few thoughts on the issue of tolerance. This post is not intended as a systematic treatise on tolerance. Rather just some thoughts on a frequently misunderstood concept that some have called the only “virtue” left in our neo-pagan society.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines Tolerance and toleration:
Toleration — from the Latin tolerare: to put up with, countenance or suffer — generally refers to the conditional acceptance of or non-interference with beliefs, actions or practices that one considers to be wrong but still “tolerable,” such that they should not be prohibited or constrained. [1]
It goes on to make a distinction that is often lost today:
[I]t is essential for the concept of toleration that the tolerated beliefs or practices are considered to be objectionable and in an important sense wrong or bad. If this objection component (cf. King 1976, 44-54) is missing, we do not speak of “toleration” but of “indifference” or “affirmation.” [2]
In effect tolerance involves putting up with something we consider wrong or displeasing but not so wrong that we must move to constrain it. Tolerance does NOT mean we approve of something as good. This essential point is often glossed over by those who often demand that tolerance mean approval, and that to disapprove of something makes one “intolerant.”

Of itself, tolerance is a good and necessary thing. But, like most good things, it has its limits. As a good thing, tolerance is essential in an imperfect world. Without tolerance we might go to war over simple human imperfections. We all have friends and family members who are people we like but, as with every human person, they also have annoying or less desirable traits. Without tolerance we would be locked in a power struggle and a fruitless battle to make each person perfect to us. As it is we tolerate less desirable aspects of people for higher goods such as harmony, friendship, respect, mercy, kindness and the like.
However, there are limits to tolerance. There are just some things in human relationships that are “deal breakers.” There are things that cannot be tolerated. For example serious and persistent lies breach the trust necessary for relationships and such behavior is not tolerated reasonably. Behavior that endangers one or both parties (either physically or spiritually) ought not be tolerated and often makes it necessary to end relationships or establish firm boundaries.
In wider society tolerance is also necessary and good but has limits. For example we appreciate the freedom to come and go as we please and it is good to tolerate the comings and goings of others. This is so even if some of the places they go, (e.g. a brothel), do not please us or win our approval. Without such a general tolerance of movement things would literally grind to a halt. But for the sake of the value of coming and going freely we put up with the less desirable aspects of it. However this tolerance has its limits. We do not permit people to drive on sidewalks, run red lights or drive in the left lane of a two way street. Neither do we permit breaking and entering or the violation of legitimate property rights. We restrict unaccompanied minors from certain locales, etc. In effect, every just law enshrines some limit to tolerance. Conservative and Liberals debate what limits law should enshrine but both sides want civil law to set some limits. Even Libertarians, while wanting less law, see a role for some law and limits, for they are not anarchists.
So, toleration is a good and necessary thing but it has its limits. Our modern struggle with the issue of tolerance seems to be twofold:
1.The definition of tolerance, as we have discussed, is flawed. Many people equate tolerance with approval and many call disapproval, intolerance. But, as we have seen this is flawed. Without some degree of disapproval, tolerance is not possible.

2.The second problem centers around the limits of tolerance. In our modern world we are being asked to tolerate increasingly troublesome behavior. A lot of this behavior centers around sexual matters. Proponents of sexual promiscuity demand increasing tolerance despite the fact that their behavior leads to diseases, abortion, teenage pregnancy, single parent families, sexual temptation, divorce, and all the ills that go with a declining family structure. Abortion proponents also demand tolerance of what they advocate although this behavior results in the death of an innocent human beings. Many people of faith think that the limits of tolerance have been transgressed in matters such as these.

Rapprochement? - The debate about toleration and its limits is not new but it seems more intense today when a shared moral vision has largely departed. Perhaps we cannot as easily define the limits of tolerance today but one way forward might be to return to a proper definition of tolerance. Perhaps if we stop (incorrectly) equating tolerance with approval a greater respect will be instilled in these debates. To ask for tolerance is not always wrong, but to demand approval is.
Consider the debate over homosexual activity. Many people of faith, at least those who hold to a more strictly Biblical view, find homosexual behavior to be wrong. The same can be said for illicit heterosexual behavior such as fornication, polygamy, and incest. But on account of our disapproval of homosexual behavior we are often called “intolerant,” (and many other things as well such as homophobic, bigoted, hateful, etc).
But tolerance is really not the issue. Most Christians are willing to tolerate the fact the people “do things in their bedroom” of which we disapprove. As long as we are not directly confronted with private behavior and told to approve of it we are generally willing to stay out of people’s private lives. But what has happened in modern times is that approval is demanded for behavior we find objectionable. When we cannot supply such approval we are called intolerant. This is a misuse of the term.
And further, what if our objections do simply emerge from bigotry as some claim but, rather, from a principled biblical stance? Our disapproval does not, ipso facto, make us bigots. Neither does it mean we are wholly intolerant and seek to force an end to behavior we do not consider good. Very few Christians I have ever heard from are asking for the police to patrol streets and enter bedrooms and make arrests. We are not intolerant, we simply do not approve of homosexual activity. And, according to the proper definition of tolerance, it is the very fact of our disapproval, that permits us to show forth tolerance. Perhaps such a consideration might instill greater respect in these debates and less name-calling from our opponents.
An aside- Gay “marriage” is a more complicated matter since it involves existing law and a demanded change in that law by proponents of so-called “gay marriage.” Most traditional Christians see a limit to tolerance here since we consider that God defined and established marriage as described in Genesis 1 & 2. Hence we cannot favor attempts to substitute a human redefinition of something we believe instituted by God.

Finally a thought as to who really “owns” tolerance. Opponents of traditional Christians often claim the high ground of tolerance for themselves. But the paradoxical result of this is a holier-than-thou attitude and an increasing intolerance of Christian faith by the self-claimed tolerant ones. Legal restrictions of the proclamation of the Christian faith in the public square are increasing. Financial exclusion of Catholic Charities from Government money used in serving the poor are becoming more common as well. In other parts of the world where free speech is less enshrined, Catholic priests and bishops are being sued and even arrested for “hate speech” because they preach traditional biblical morality. None of this sounds very tolerant. Our opponents need not approve of our beliefs but they ought to exhibit greater tolerance of us, the same tolerance they ask of us.

Nice Ride

We Picked up a New Set of Wheels Yesterday

Yesterday, we went out to the pretty city of Stratford, Ontario, about 45 miles from home here in London, where we picked up our new 2010 Honda Accord EX-L. 

We tried to get along with only one car for about a year, but found that there were too many times where one of the two of us was stranded in the house because of commitments that the other had.  So, we bit the bullet and bought a beautiful silver 4 door sedan with black leather interior.

Fundamentally, it is very similar to our other car, a grey 2004 Honda Accord EX-L, with which we remain very satisfied, after almost 190,000 kilometers of driving.

We have had several Honda's as have other family members, since My Dear Wife started this back in 1994, when she purchased the first Honda in our extended family, a Civic.  At the time, I gave her the dickens for purchasing a "foreign" car, when as I said to her, there were Canadian and American auto workers trying to keep their jobs. 

Other makers produce good cars, I am sure, but we are so pleased with the Honda products, that we are committed to saving ourselves stress and pain, by sticking with what we are satisfied with.  Although Honda is a Japanese company, both of our Accords have been made in plants in America, where North American workers build them, and the Civics that we and family members have driven over the last 15 years have all been made locally here in Ontario, with home grown labour.

Our first Accord came from Stratford Honda, and the rustproofing and paint protection was done next door at a Uniglass Plus outlet run by the brother of the dealership owner.  In over 5 years with that first Accord, it has continued to look like new, as we kept up the regular warranty inspections at Uniglass.

We dropped in to Stratford to see the salesman Alan Pfaff just about a week ago, and he gave us a very good price to purchase a new one, and so the next morning we committed to the purchase. 

Yesterday was the day to pick up our new ride.  It handles like a Honda Accord, no surprise there, and rode beautifully home to our place.  We will be heading out to Arizona soon for a pre-winter trip to the RV resort we stay at in the winter, and look forward to the trip with it.

If you are in the market for a new or used car, and a Honda is a good option for you, contact Alan Pfaff at Stratford Honda 519 271-2793 or visit their web site here.

This is neither a paid political or marketing announcement, just a note from a satisfied Honda owner.