St. John Bosco's Spirit of Change

St. John Bosco (1888) may have scandalized others in his efforts to attract and educate boys. Rather than detaching himself from the world and limiting himself to priestly work, he got involved in contract negotiations with the employers of the exploited boys who flocked into the city from the countryside. Rather than wait for them to knock at the Rectory, he went out to find them in the alleys near liquor stores. Rather than keep himself so prim and proper with well starched vestments, he pulled his cossack up as he raced in the town square with the boys.

His attitude of change has been immortalized in the Rules of the Salesians. This has been why his order has thrived and grown to be the third largest in the world today.

To adapt to the needs of times requires the ability to read the “signs of the times“. Being stuck in age old ways is not fidelity; it can be blindness. If one is wearing shades, then everything is seen in that hue. When something fails, it is blamed on everything other than oneself.

I remember meeting two Salesians back in the 80s. The younger talked about the modem setup in the school while the older talked about the book binding shop. It is not good when people get stuck in a rut; because, if all they have is a hammer, then everything else looks like a nail.

To innovate is risky. It is safer to be reactionary, to sit back and wait for the innovator to fail. But as St. Theresa of the Avila wrote, “One who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.” People nowadays are severely criticizing the experiments and abuses brought about by the second Vatican council. But some of these activities were attempts to respond to situations that have never confronted the Church before.  People made it up as they went along.

In the past St. Thomas Aquinas integrated Catholic faith with Aristotelian philosophy and produced the classical Scholasticism that is still taught in the seminaries. But it was radical to use a pagan philosophy to explain the revealed truth in Salvation history. 

More recently, there were some who took the Catholic faith and blended it with the Marxist dialectical thought to produce Liberation theology. They thought that since Communism was inevitable, they might as well Christianize it. And that turned out to be tragic mistake. However, I doubt if the liberation theologians were men of prayer because, it is hard to believe how that approach can come from above. And that is the difference between a faithful innovation versus a reckless change.

Prayer makes one honestly accept his ineffectiveness and consider others’ ideas. Prayer brings courage to risk making mistakes and being criticized. Courage comes the cour meaning heart, the symbol of charity. Prayer cultivates one’s love for God and neighbor that makes one reach beyond his comfort zone and find the second wind to start all over.

If the Church is to address the needs of our days, they may need that gift of adaptability given through St. John Bosco.

Upcoming Superbowl Ad Scares Pro-Choice Mob. Their Slander Refuted.

Pro-choice mob tries to block Pam Tebow from sharing her dangerous choice to keep Tim.  Pam is scheduled to talk about the abortion recommendation in a Superbowl ad and her detractors call her a liar because, it is improbable for the doctor to suggest an abortion - an illegal procedure where they were, the Philippines.

While I am unaware of the facts behind Pam's medical case, I know that in Catholic moral theology, there is the principle of double-effect where some actions may be considered moral even if they have two effects - one good and the other evil.  For example, operating on a cancerous uterus would kill the fetus attached to it or taking metronidazole can have the side-effect of a miscarriage.  So, that is the context where Catholic doctors might have advised "abortion".  It is not exactly "abortion" that was recommended but a procedure that can have that side-effect.  It is a subtle difference but it is one that is consistent to the condemnation of abortion in all cases.

Update from an intro to her speech at Louisville Women's Ministries.
More than 21 years ago, she and her husband, Bob, were serving as missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam became ill and was treated with strong antibiotics before discovering she was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety. She refused. 

Update from Gainesville Sun.
Just before her pregnancy, Pam fell into a coma after contracting amoebic dysentery, a bacteria transmitted through contaminated drinking water. During her recovery, she received a series of strong medications. And even though she discontinued the regimen when she discovered the pregnancy, doctors told Pam the fetus had been damaged.  "They thought I should have an abortion to save my life from the beginning all the way through the seventh month," she recalled.  In her seventh month of pregnancy, Pam traveled to the country's capital, Manila, where she received around-the-clock care from an American-trained physician.


Creative Minority Report: Pro-Choicers Call Tebow's Mother A Liar:
Video about the ad.

Source: click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwccS-TS8tk

Tim unafraid to live for God even publicly.

Source for virgin interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS8qqNnR3aM

Tim a missionary in the Philippines.
Publish Post
Source for mission work:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUc_JO7A6OU

Video: 2010 Right to Life March - a Jewish Cause too

The cause of defending preborn children is not defended by Christians alone.  As you can see from the video, it is also promoted by the Jewish people.  Watch Rabbi Yehuda Levin speaking at the anual March for Life in Washington, DC and listen to his suggestions on how to stop this holocaust.

Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfB-zfrItSg
Read also: The Real March For Life (350,000 in 2010) in http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-2010-right-to-life-march-300000.html

Video: 2010 Right to Life March ~350,000. US media did not report.

When it comes to covering pro-life activities, the US mainstream media either ignores or distorts the story.   In the video below, Rick Sanchez gives the impression that the pro-choice crowd is just as active and numerous.  Truth and objectivity is compromised or sold out to the sponsors.  But what is mind boggling is despite the over-whelming numbers of pro-lifers, the media still sides with the abortion supporters;  that does not make much business sense.  Wouldn't  there be more viewers or papers sold if they reported the story fairly?  The video below documents the death of journalistic integrity when it comes to this issue.  The mainstream media, MSM, has become part of the government propaganda machinery.  But the truth cannot be hidden and it shall set people free. 


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8knMYK-IX4U or click here.

Video description: At the 2010 March for Life the media set new standards for journalistic fraud. In its lead photo, CNN showed five pro-abortion picketers, all that could be found, and ignored the 300,000 pro-life marchers. CNN's Rick Sanchez wondered out loud which group dominated. Newsweek claimed that most participants were in their 60's when, in fact, most were under 25. This video sets the record straight.

Video: Patriotism and Pride for America

Last night, the president claimed that last week's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, "open[ed] the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities."  

But that is a lie. 

The Court held that 2 U.S.C. Section 441a, which prohibits all corporate political spending, is unconstitutional. Foreign nationals, specifically defined to include foreign corporations, are prohibiting from making "a contribution or donation of money or ather thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which was not at issue in the case. Foreign corporations are also prohibited, under 2 U.S.C. 441e, from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party, and they prohibited from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication... ." (1)

And since he wanted other ideas sent his way, I thought I'd post this.
(2)  source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA or click here

Video description:  Bob Basso author of "Common Sense" plays the role of Thomas Paine to ignite the fire of change in America. Patriotism and Pride for America lead Thomas Paine to help take back America! (2)

(1)  Bradley A. Smith.  National Review Online.  http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTVkODZiM2M0ODEzOGQ3MTMwYzgzYjNmODBiMzQzZjk

Creative Minority Report: Join The Non Nobis Network

An invitation from Patrick Archibold

Excerpt:
In a way that seemed almost impossible, the entire battle has turned. I need not go into detail here, you all know the story. We understand that the war on life is far from over, but today, at least for a while, by the grace of God, we have avoided institutionalized and tax-payer funded abortion. There will be other battles and perhaps they will be very soon, but it is incumbent upon all of us to acknowledge the great miracle that we have witnessed and to thank God for delivering us from this evil.So what I propose is that we Catholic, Christian, and pro-life bloggers everywhere give thanks to God by way publishing the Non Nobis in gratitude for this wondrous day.
Non nobis, non nobis, DomineSed nomini tuo da gloriam.Not to us, not to us, o Lord,But to your name give glory.I ask that any blogger interested in showing their gratitude for this victory, print the Non Nobis. I will also encourage you to also link or show your favorite version of the Non nobis. Mine is the scene from Henry V after the battle of Agincourt.

Read complete post at link:

Creative Minority Report: Join The Non Nobis Network

Light a candle series*: Privatize mass transit.

Why don’t we privatize sections of mass transit that make sense. There can be more buses and more routes. There can be mini-buses faring on shorter circuits. This will encourage people to take mass transit and reduce the cars on the road. With more buses, the wait time is less. It contributes to national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil. It promotes health and preserves the environment by reducing carbon emissions. It creates jobs for drivers, conductors, mechanics, supervisors and support personnel. It’s been done abroad and it works.  
* It is better to like a candle than to curse the darkness.

Don't cry for me America. It's not about me; it's about you.

Stunned by the upset victory of Senator Brown in MA, the Democrats led by President Obama started to reaffirm their position as champions and servants of the people.  They reactivate their propaganda machinery to avert a similar backlash this Nov.  President Obama himself takes the road with the message, "It's not about me;  it's about you."

Then, he side steps to redirect the cross-hairs of popular anger to the bankers and their bonuses.  "They're the cause of your misery and why the economy failed."  Like Juan and Evita Peron of Argentina, he poses on the side of the poor and yells, "Give us justice."  It's the same script of every dictator who grabs power by justifying it as fighting for the oppressed.

But who is the real champion of the poor and who uses them for his advantage?  It is not he who kills the goose the lays the golden eggs by over-regulating the financial industry to the point that capital investment dries up and wilts the source of a dignified livelihood.  It is not he who oppresses the rich in the name of justice for justice is not brought about by injustice.

For as the Lord Jesus states, "The poor will always be around."  And people like Judas will continue to feign concern to help themselves instead.  The test on whether a person is truly concerned to help the poor is through the integrity of his character.  It he has lied to the people before, then the chances of him lying now is quite likely.

As stimulating as crack. The US journey from an economic descent to a spiritual ascent.

Did Ben Benanke’s tactics avert the recurrence of a debilitating depression or did he simply delay it’s onslaught? This video suggests imply that the economic stimulus had the same effect as a shot of morphine that numbed the pain without healing the cause.  Worse, it has turned us into a junkie needing fixes until we OD or hit rock bottom. 

Perhaps there is a quick rehab and will get us back on our feet sooner – like a new mix of fiscal and monetary policies or a new global approach that makes markets more efficient than ever. Until that’s found, the only way out is the old fashioned cold-turkey and pick-ourselves-up-by-the-boot-straps approach.

It starts with the humbling acceptance of the truth that we messed up followed by embracing those old school values and boring life styles that values temperance over excess, patience over instant gratification, thrift over living large, saving over borrowing and discipline over letting go.

To go beyond the mundane, this renewed way of living is the classic spirituality of sacrifice, the way of the cross. The virtue of humility disposes us to be patient and put up with doing without or with less. It makes us temperate in living within or even beneath our means. Discipline is fortitude or the strength to say no or go, without fear of hardship and deprivation. This is the old school of asceticism; this is why people voluntarily take the vow of poverty. And after being mortified and purified, one enters into mysticism where sacrifice is no longer an uncomfortable state. Rather, it becomes transforming as a seed dies to sprout into a plant that will produce fruit. Or we join the Lord Jesus in His “kenosis” where He suffered and died to bring us eternal life.

So, who knew that the financial collapse can bring about a stronger nation and better still one that will find God all over again.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZA0qNsf4m0 or click here

Blaming Freddie? ”Save the drama for your momma.”

These days, there’s a lot of talk on the hill questioning the mission and status of FreddieMac, Freddie, because of the bailout.  To me, all this is another soap opera because, Freddie has not been involved in any wrongdoing.  When their executives were taken to task on the hill, they came out squeaky clean.  

Freddie buys mortgages from lenders then bundles them into securities to sell back to huge investors.  This business makes the American dream of home ownership possible because, the lenders turn these debts around easily for a profit.  In countries where there is no Freddie, the mortgage rates are prohibitive.

One way Freddie makes money is by managing risk well.  They only buy good loans - from borrowers with good credit ratings and stable jobs.  And this is where the problem occurred because some big wigs from the hill called their execs and yelled at them for this.  “How will the banks lend to those who are not so well off if Freddie buys only the safe loans!”  And so for one year, the goal in Freddie was to “Buy More Loans”.

Do you think the government big wigs who twisted Freddie’s arm were Republicans?  Think again because Republicans are on the side of the investors.  This is where the hypocrisy occurs.  The Democrats who pushed Freddie into bankruptcy are making a lot of noise about his special status today.  And the show goes on for the those who don't know any better.  But now you do.  So, if you get a chance to talk to the clowns please tell them, ”Save the drama for your momma.”

The Scales Fell Off America's Eyes. Another Bursted Bubble.

Why was there a sudden reversal of support for the embodiment of hope?  It's because the people realized that he cannot deliver and his solution was taking the country from the frying pan to the fire.
Peter Wehner stated it best as “Obama cast himself as a figure uncorrupted and unco-opted by evil Washington,”. He “promised to be a unifier and not a polarizer; someone nondogmatic and uncontaminated by the special-interest cesspool that Washington had become.” Obama’s appeal was built on the rhetoric of hope and change, on his “freshness and sense of promise.” A cult of personality built up around Obama — not because of what he had achieved but because of what he seemed to embody." ... "That was what we were promised. What we got instead is a president who increased the divisions in our nation, the most partisan and polarizing figure in the history of polling, one who is dogmatic and has been as generous to special interests as any we have seen. The efforts to buy votes in pursuit of the Obama agenda has added sewage to the cesspool."  It was Hillary Clinton of all people who understood Obama best when she said during the campaign, “We have to make people understand that he’s not real.”
So it's curtains for him.  I don't know his end game but it would not be a grab for absolute power because there is no support - not even from his party and much less from the military.  If he's as smart as he's presented, perhaps he can still change course and redeem himself.  I don't like his politics but he is still the president.  So, I pray for his conversion.

POWs, spies & terrorists: an appropriate judicial and penal model

When I was 11, my uncle and I played chess a lot.   (I was pretty good that I can even beat our neighbor’s dad.)  During our games we talked about the war, WWII, a lot.  I lost my grandpa and a granduncle at that war.  I learned about the Geneva Convention protecting everyone’s troops.  It was a civilized war.  When captured, one can disclose his name, rank and serial number then be kept in the POW camps until a prisoner exchange or release can be arranged.

 But those rules were for soldiers who fought reasonably i.e. by going after military targets and not harming civilians.  I guess there was no other kind during that war.  The worst was when an enemy dons the uniform of your troops; that one gets to be executed immediately when caught.

I wonder what my uncle would have thought about terrorists who wore no uniforms and attacked civilians.  My guess is that these guys would be lower than maggots where a firing squad would be too dignified for them.  So, he would be perplexed  to know that they will be given civil rights protections and flown in civilian courts for a regular hearing.  These poor excuse for military personnel would be protected by a court appointed lawyers and be making plea deals to bring down their sentences.  They cannot even be interrogated.

Sometimes, I wonder if this country's leaders lack perspective and judgment.  Perhaps Harvard law needs to teach about wartime justice so that their graduates can use the appropriate paradigm and not usher the miscarriages of justice that make the land of freedom a joke in the world.

The Democrats' Scheme to win 2010 & 2012

In the past, the US sent observers abroad to monitor the elections.  (My uncle was even mistaken to be CIA because he visited during those days.)  Anyway, with the early elections in MA, it appears that it is my people's turn to return the favor and watch the MA elections and all the coming elections in the US for 2010 & 2012.  This observation is not frivolous as it sounds because of the numerous allegations of upcoming fraud as the only way for the Democrats to have any political future. Acc. to Prof. Gaski, the Democrats "don't believe they will ever have to face a real election again."  With the unrest and anger in the population now, there is no way for them to win fairly.  So, while they have the power they can engage in the following shenanigans to step up the coming elections in their favor according to the article below.  This will be done in the following ways:


(1) Grant amnesty to the illegal aliens (the correct term for lawbreaking invaders, regardless of their natural and rational motives) which will create up to 30 million reliably Democrat voters -- especially after being registered at least once each by ACORN.

(2) Speaking of which, between ACORN and the SEIU, the Democrats will be stealing all the elections they really need anyway, starting next November.  ...America should brace for the biggest vote fraud and election theft caper of all time on election night 2010 -- and in the months following. We now  know as well that the Dems are guaranteed to win any statewide recount where there is a Democrat Secretary of State. And who, we must ask, is there to enforce the election laws now?

(3) As if they need it, the Dems will be secretly encouraging (maybe even hiring) third-party candidates wherever they need them, because they know that is the way to split the opposition vote. It almost always happens that way to the Democrats' benefit. If people such as Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck don't realize this soon, instead of talking up the third-party route, they will only help to ensure a permanent Democrat stranglehold on Congress and the presidency -- although any one of this litany of methods would probably be sufficient for that. So the Dems are actually conservative in the sense of wanting some built-in redundancy!

(4) What do we suppose the extra trillion dollars of "stimulus" money to be spent from 2010 to 2012 is really for? Just a coincidence, or a ready-made election slush fund? How much has already been committed to ACORN and SEIU?

(5) Then there is the "universal voter registration" plan that the Wall Street Journal's John Fund has spotlighted, granting automatic voting privilege 
to anyone who has ever registered for practically anything, anywhere, anytime. The Democrats and their henchmen could work with that, couldn't they? Or why are  they so eager to enact it? Their entire history has been to oppose laws that prevent vote fraud, after all. (What could be their motive for that particular laxity?)...

(6) When you become dependent on the decision of a Democrat bureaucrat for crucial medical treatment -- after the health care takeover -- how much power does that give the Democrats over you? Elderly voters tend to vote more conservative than younger voters, so letting the elderly die because care is "too expensive" can reshape the political profile of the electorate. But can we reasonably foresee that party registration or political contributions might enter the bureaucrat's calculus? Might it occur to the intense partisans of the Obama administration to grant lifesaving treatment to those they regard as "their people," but not to others? What a neat way to eliminate the opposition! Party registration is already public information. And if they can overturn the secret ballot for union elections via "card check," how long before they try to impose the same more generally, so they will always know how you have voted? Do not trust the judiciary to save us, either, after President Obama packs the courts with more ultra-leftists.
source http://catholiccitizens.org/press/pressview.asp?c=51649 or click here

And if the past were any indication, then read below for a possible threat.

"Over the last several election cycles, employees of the community organizing group ACORN were found to have forged thousands of voter registrations in dozens of states. According to former ACORN officials, as many ashalf of all of the group's voter registrations were fraudulent. And the total number of bogus submissions by the group's employees during the last election cycle alone could be as high as 600,000. ...  But the registrations are only one element of the scam.  ...During the run-up to the 2008 New Jersey gubernatorial election, John Fund noted that state officials had received a startling 180,000 requests for absentee ballots. A "new loosely written vote-by-mail law" reportedly discourages county clerks from closely validating the signatures on absentee ballots, which is the only method of verification.


ACORN's preferred method appears to combine a fraudulent voter registration with an equally bogus absentee ballot. For this reason, observers speculate, the last few election cycles have seen huge increases in the number of absentee ballots cast.


Big Government reports that this sort of fraud was endemic to the 2008 election cycle. In Troy, New York, "[d]ozens of forged and fraudulent absentee ballots from people registered to vote on the Working Families Party line were filed in the Sept. 15 primary elections... the fraudulent ballots were handled by or prepared on behalf of various elected officials and leaders and operatives for the Democratic and Working Families parties." In fact, some ballots may have been cast with stolen identities.
Coleman vs. Franken
By far the most insidious tactic used by ACORN and related groups is the "found ballot". Whenever election outcomes are razor thin, you can expect that ACORN's thousands of voter registrations -- along with absentee ballots -- will be "discovered" to add new votes to the Democrat candidate's total.


After initially leading failed radio host Al Franken by 725 votes, incumbent Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota ended up losing the race after a series of bizarre recounts.


• The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that "the state Canvassing Board approved the use of Election Day results for 133 Minneapolis ballots that can't be found and also recommended that counties sort and count absentee ballots that were mistakenly rejected." This decision gave Franken most of his winning margin.


• In Ramsey County, "the recount showed that there were 171 more ballots than recorded votes", yet the ballots were counted, and Franken picked up nearly 40 more votes.


Washington Governor's Race
In 2004 Dino Rossi, the Republican candidate, won the state of Washington's governorship by a narrow margin. Butthat victory proved short-lived. Election officials:
• discovered uncounted ballots weeks and months after the election;
• counted votes from people without valid registrations;
• and permitted "felons without voting rights, as well as a few dead people, to cast ballots".
After the recounts, Rossi lost by a mere 133 votes.


Source:
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/01/inside-acorn-vote-fraud-scam.html or here

Video: Ballots not bullets. The MA Miracle.

Source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nEoW-P81-0 or click here
Video Description:
On January 19, 2010, a special election will be held in Massachusetts to select a new US Senator. Mainstream media pundits would have you believe Democrat Maratha Coakley is the undisputed leader in the race. But the so-called 'experts' may be in for a bit of a surprise.

Freedom-loving Americans from across our nation are rising-up to support Republican candidate Scott Brown. In the days leading up to the election, Brown has advanced such that some polls now actually show him within the margin of error.

Brown would provide the critical 41st vote in the Senate to break the Democrat's filibuster-proof majority and stop the unprecedented assault on our personal liberties that is now taking place in Congress.

Scott Brown has pledged to vote against the government takeover of our health care system and is also opposed to cap-and-trade.

Martha Coakley, on the other hand, supports Obama's socialistic agenda.

The political elite should not underestimate the resilience of the American people to defend their liberty from a tyrannical government.

Music Video About Internet Porn & Human Trafficking

Source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqyLRpGgxRs or click here


Constance is a story about a girl in the Philippines victimized by Human Trafficking. It was directed by Sam Sanchez of Stick Productions in 2006. Special thanks to Nakeism Labs. It has spread like wildfire via YouTube, and has inspired an international human rights movement called the "Constance Campaign." Mr. J spearheaded the movement and has partnered with Non-Profit's like IamComing.org, XXXChurch, and HumanTrafficking.org. In May 2007, Constance was featured on CBS Evening News in an expose' on internet pornography

$10,000 Reward for Abortion Clinic "Whistle Blowers"

Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOLabdbknE or click here

Please pass along.

Operation Rescue announced today that it is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of abortionists who are breaking the law.  The campaign, known as Abortion Whistleblowers, is encouraging abortion clinic workers and others to come forward and tell what they know about abortion clinic abuses.

Contact Operation Rescue at:
Voice: 316-683-6790 ext. 155
E-mail: abortionwhistleblower(at)gmail.com

Vatican Chief Justice warns: " US embracing 'totalitarianism' that will lead to violence

Last Tue. Jan 12, 2010 Archbishop Raymond Burke, the Vatican "Chief Justice" preached to a group of lawyers in Phoenix, Ariz., exhorting them to keep God before their eyes as they strive to administer justice amidst a “society which is abandoning its Judeo-Christian foundations.”  His candid observation of the direction of the US society is quite alarming describing it as, "...a society embracing a totalitarianism which masks itself as the 'hope,' the 'future,' of our nation."  Even more dire are the consequences as "...such a society can only produce violence and death and in the end destroy itself,”  Read more here or http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/a_society_that_masks_totalitarianism_with_hope_will_destroy_itself_warns_archbishop_burke/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+catholicnewsagency/dailynews+(CNA+Daily+News)

Pelosi's bishop corrects her ideas about freedom and choice

No matter what Pelosi misunderstood in the past about freedom and choice, her bishop clearly points out her mistake and error.  So, she cannot fall back on that excuse anymore.  Going forward though, what if she persists in her ways and continues to support or promote pro-abortion legislation and policies?  Will her bishop discipline her with excommunication as required by Church law?  If not, why?  Read more about the teaching here or use this link http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pelosis_archbishop_slams_her_rationale_for_supporting_abortion/?url=pelosis_archbishop_slams_her_rationale_for_supporting_abortion/

Addressing those who advocate for “reproductive choice” while claiming to be Catholic, Archbishop Niederauer emphasized, “it is entirely incompatible with Catholic teaching to conclude that our freedom of will justifies choices that are radically contrary to the Gospel—racism, infidelity, abortion, theft. Freedom of will is the capacity to act with moral responsibility; it is not the ability to determine arbitrarily what constitutes moral right.”

St. John Bosco took the tiger out of the woods and the woods out of the tiger

You can take the tiger out of the woods, but you can’t take the woods out of the tiger.  While the young can be taken away from dangerous surroundings, there are innate tendencies that will still be a source of temptation.  St. John Bosco is aware of these that is why he took the tiger out of the woods, away from the occasions of sin like places and persons.  Moreover, he tried to take the woods out of the tiger.

He sheltered the boys in his school and helped them along the straight and narrow by prevention and assistance.  Assistance is commonly understood as supervision, but the idea was not to be a police man trying to catch the boys when they fail.  Rather, it is becoming a coach who supports the boys in their efforts.  That is why you will find the priests and brothers always with the boys.  The preventive measures are activities, outlets of energy – manual work, sports, hobbies, studies, prayers, music, drama and others.  In addition to that, St. John Bosco instilled the ideals of holiness by presenting saints for emulation and by frequent reception of Confession and Holy Communion.  Then there is the constant vigilance and regular weeding lest vice creeps in the delicate souls of the young.  This was done through the daily examination of conscience and the monthly retreats.  Even little things are watched because the devil does not tempt one to sin big all of a sudden.  Rather, he starts with little things and progresses on to imperfections, to little sins and then to a grave fall from grace.

Today, one can still apply St. John Bosco’s methods of prevention to preserve one’s innocence.  Control the environment and shut out all the sources of temptation.  Control oneself and avoid idleness.  Finally, bolster one’s strength by grace from the sacraments and by self-discipline.  Mortifications such as denying oneself of things which are not bad help in strengthening the will power.  If you can choose to not super size your fries, then that’s a start.  Later when you see a suggestive picture appear on your web page, you can easily avoid gawking at it.  But if you indulge yourself, then you may find it more difficult to say no when you really need to.  If you let yourself go, then you can end up easily like Tiger Woods.

"Friends" of African-Americans (both fair & dark skinned)

I hear black people call each other “Negro” or the other derivative of that and they take no offense. It’s almost like buddy and pal. But if a white man calls them that, then he can get shot unless he’s a Democrat. Recently, several white folks practically called the president that but were excused because they’re Democrats. Because they vote or support the interests of blacks, they’re allies. And when they say “Negro” or “Boy” or “shoeshine”,  it’s really excusable because they really love blacks when it comes to actions.

In his book, Game Change, Sen. Harry Reid wrote that Pres. Obama has a chance of winning because he is light-skinned and does not speak with a “Negro dialect”. It is quite offensive really because the senator thinks that if Obama was really dark and talks like an regular black man from the projects, then he cannot be elected. And that is because even the Democrats don’t think that a black man can lead the country.  Someone who is a little black or an Oreo – black on the outside but white on the inside may have a chance because there's some white in him. Read the entire article here or http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/01/09/negro-dialect-harry-reid/

That is a little subtle compared what former President Clinton said. “In lobbying the late Sen. Edward Kennedy to endorse his wife, former President Clinton angered the liberal icon by belittling Obama. Telling a friend about the conversation, Kennedy recalled Clinton had said "a few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee," the authors paraphrase.” Read the whole article here. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31302.html  That's what the highest Democrat in office thinks of a Harvard educated black man i.e. despite his credentials and accomplishments, he'll only be good for servile work.

And finally, we have Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his definition of the essence of a black man.  "What the (expletive)? Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter," Blagojevich told the magazine for a story in its February issue, which hits newsstands Jan. 19. "I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived," Blagojevich said. "I saw it all growing up." Read the whole article here http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/11/politics/main6080518.shtml   To him, Obama is not smart enough to have his own ideas because he parrots out a script from the teleprompter - just like all blacks.

What is sad is how the black community came back to excuse them like they don’t mean what they said or it was used as an endearment and that these white folks really respect and love them. I wonder if they’re better off with people who are honest enough to disagree and disapprove of them and their ways in their faces than they are with people who pretend to be their friends but really think nothing of them.  With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Jan 11 U.S. Bishops Call on Parishes to Help Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform

Click here for complete article and inserts just in case your parish is not zealous with this issue.

WASHINGTON—In a nationwide call to Catholics to prevent health care reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent bulletin inserts and pulpit announcements to almost 19,000 parishes across the country. 


Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9ejFu88Ckc or click here

Catholic Campaign for Human Development, CCHD, Still Funds Abortion Org

LifeSite News is reporting that CCHD is still funding an organization from provides abortions.  The San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP) received $200,000 last fall according to the Bellarmine Veritas Ministry.  CCHD and the Archdiocese of San Francisco subsequently investigated SFOP and reaffirmed their support, adding their admiration for its initiatives toward creating a model program for universal health care.

"American Life League, in coalition with Reform CCHD, then took a closer look at these insurance initiatives -- Healthy San Francisco and Healthy Kids. Both programs heavily promote and provide funding for abortion, birth control, and comprehensive sex education. (For evidence, see p. 42 of San Francisco Health Plan, the Healthy San Francisco mailer, the Healthy Kids Web site, and the recent investigation by Bellarmine Veritas Ministries.)" Click here for more.

Video: America Rising: An Open Letter to Democrat Politicians - 11/2/10

Reposting this after the video was yanked out of YouTube


Source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=662R2awSwPQ or click here

Video: Jihad Rages Vs USA; Obama must pick a side

Source: http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=25b77dd863c66a7144bc or click here

President Obama Must Choose Sides

"In his speech last spring in Cairo, Mr. Obama said, "I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear." Defending the honor of Islam and protecting Muslims is one of the goals that Barack Obama has set for himself. It constitutes a personal definition of his presidency. But is he doing so to the point of misleading the public in general, and at the risk of jeopardizing the American people in particular?

The near-deaths of three hundred people on Christmas due to an Islamic terrorist plot -- an act of war against America -- did not rouse Obama from golf and relaxation until three days later. When he finally spoke, he disrespected us, as before, by claiming that this was a "lone event" disconnected from anything larger. But most Americans knew what it was, and the subsequent reports and al-Qaeda announcement told us that this was an act of jihad, a part of the larger scheme of radical Islam in its war against America.

After the Fort Hood massacre, the president's first reaction was to intone the silly assertion that we "do not know what prompted this outrage." In fact, everyone immediately intuited what was verified more each day after the carnage: that devotion to the Islamic cause generated Nidal Hasan's decision to kill American infidels. The president was strangely unwilling to tie these murders to Islam or jihad or imams, even knowing that the jihadist yelled "Allah aqbar" as he mowed down innocent Americans.  "  In all these matters, Mr. Obama's first concern seems to protect things Islamic rather than name and fight the Islamism intent on destroying us.

Source http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/01/president_obama_must_choose_wh.html or click the title.

Opinion: 

There are moderate and conservative Muslims who do not think that others are fair game.  Their jihad is waged within themselves, against sinful inclinations.  They fast, pray and give alms.  However, there is the militant branch of Islam that calls for the destruction of all infidels or non-Muslims - starting with the great Satan, America.  If the administration will shy away from addressing that common feature of all the terrorist attacks for the sake of being cordial, then it is not being realistic for starters and secondly it is deceiving and dumbing its own intelligence analysis.  Why the administration took this route can only posit dubious motives but the security of the American people would not be one of them.

Vid: Is a New American Revolution Immanent?

"WASHINGTON - From bailouts to boatloads of spending, there's no denying that Americans are mad.
Emotions are high at Tea Party protests across the country and now it's showing in the polls.They range from very angry, at 46 percent, to 25 percent being somewhat angry at current government policies. ...White House officials have no plans to dial back on their agenda in 2010. They believe the bailouts, health care reform, and stimulus money for jobs are crucial to improving the economy.  But it's a risky strategy: if the economy doesn't turn around, the big government cry of socialism against President Obama could get even louder."



source http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2010/January/Anger-at-Big-Govt-Fueling-New-Revolution/ or click here

Circumventing the people's will can have dire consequences - even now.

"As Republican Scott Brown’s campaign warms up to take Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat in Massachusetts, Frank Quaratiello of the Boston Herald is reporting something shocking: if Brown wins, Massachusetts Democrats may drag out his certification as the victor to enable appointed Sen. Paul Kirk (the former DNC chairman) to put ObamaCare over the top.

"We want to get this resolved before President Obama’s State of the Union address in early to mid-February," Kirk told reporters at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast...
"Absolutely," Kirk said, when asked if he’d vote for the bill, even if Brown captures the seat. "It would be my responsibility as United States senator, representing the people and understanding Senator Kennedy’s agenda. . . . I think you’re asking me a hypothetical question but I’d be pleased to vote for the bill."
After all the rule-bending shenanigans of the Massachusetts Democrats, leaving a dying Kennedy in office, and then ramrodding Kirk's appointment to the Senate to help ObamaCare, now they're desperate enough to ignore the people's vote?"  from http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2010/01/09/stunner-scared-mass-dems-plot-delay-gop-victory-teddy-seat-until-obamaca#ixzz0cDxmL6jk or continue here

Opinion:

Circumventing the people's will can have dire consequences.  It is definitely going to rout the Democrats out of office in 2010 & 2012 unless the electoral process also gets mired into the culture of corruption and they somehow pull it off using inmates and dead people’s votes. Regardless, the consequences can even come sooner as the ruling party continues impose their ideology instead of respecting the people's will as they shut down the forum for debate, circumvented the legislative process and now change the rules.  With the weakening of the intelligence organizations at home and abroad as shown by the numerous lapses in security, there is a high probability that there will be more attempts until this administration's term is over.  If has gotten so bad that people are wondering if Obama is al-Qaida 

 http://normanhooben.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-obama-al-qaeda-just-wondering-out.html  or click here

Jan. 20-23 Pro-life Activities in DC

In order to help pro-life pilgrims plan their trip for the upcoming national capital March for Life, LifeSiteNews.com has compiled a list of events in and around D.C. Please check back frequently as this list will be updated as more details become available.  Source:  http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jan/10010814.html

Social Venn Diagram: based on emotional dysfunction, intelligence, social ineptitude & obssesiveness

Source:  http://thegreatgeekmanual.com/blog/picture-of-the-week-social-venn-diagram#more-7775

Here is a graphical definition of the labels used to tag people - FYI.

Video: Should RNC Chairman Credit God for his Position?

source http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2010/January/RNC-Chairman-Credits-God-for-his-Position/ or click here
“Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told CBN News God put him in his current position.  Steele came under fire recently after criticizing Republican leadership in his new book and urging the party to get back to its conservative principles. He also said the GOP wouldn't be able to win back the House in 2010."  Acc. to CBN News. 

 Opinion:

 To presume that his current position was preordained by God is presumptuous in my opinion.  Just because something happened does not mean that God wanted it to happen.  Because of freedom, many things happen that are not desired by God e.g. the Holocaust, abortions, terrorist attacks and sin.  So, Mr. Steele should be cautious in making such comments; because, they may be false.  The fact that he is still there does not mean that God wants him to be there.  He shouldn't use that as a justification.  It's more of a rationalization;  because, he's holding the party back.  Perhaps, he needs to consider reading the sign of the times and discerning what God’s will is truly.

Video: New Stealth Bill to Generate Democrat Votes

Source:  click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKGriZ-jYtc
Description:
"Many are puzzled that Democrats persist in ramming unpopular and destructive legislation down our collective throats while seemingly unconcerned by their plummeting poll numbers. A widespread belief is that the Democrats are committing political suicide and will be swept from one or both houses of Congress with unprecedented electoral losses next November. But since Democrat politicians rarely do things that will not ultimately benefit themselves, this column asked two weeks ago: "what do they know that we don't?"

Opinion: 
I think they can and will lie to these people to get their votes.  They can tell the welfare recipients that the GOP candidate if elected will take away their benefits.  They can tell the prisoners that the GOP candidate is not sympathetic to commutation of sentences but their candidate is for early release.

Magic Votes, Closed Doors, Heart Tones and a UNIX Admin in Wallstreet

85% scrap abortion plans after hearing heart tones.
The CMR blog reported that an executive director of a Community Pregnancy Center named Candice Keller said in the Middletown Journal that 85% of expecting mothers who are considering an abortion change their minds after hearing their baby’s heartbeat. So the abortion industry wants to close down pregnancy centers or prevent them from exposing the mother to hear the child’s heartbeat. The comments on the combox produced a suggestion to have kids go on field trips to see an ultrasound machine and even hear the heartbeat of an unborn child. I thought that was great because it will prevent the tragedy of having a mother tricked into murdering her child thinking that it was only a blob of flesh. And I won’t wait for the school field trip. I will show my daughter how a baby develops on the web and let her hear the heartbeats there.

20 million Democrat supporters from scratch.
It’s not from scratch really but from illegal aliens. Just give them amnesty and you get new voters.

Watching the nation get screwed.
This ping-pong tactic to ram the healthcare reform obviously subverts the democratic process. Then it is blatantly kept in the dark, contrary to the president’s promises. In the face of such a travesty, I wonder why the opposition sits there watching helplessly while twiddling their thumbs. Why don’t they stand up and walk-out to protest this mockery of the legislative process?

Exploding underwear and a UNIX admin in Wall street.
One of my buddies was a UNIX System admin in Wall street. When a server goes down, he has 15 minutes to bring it up. If he fails, he’s out because, millions of dollars would have been lost during that time. How about the admins who were supposed to keep the terrorists out? Do they have more than 1 strike? That underwear bomber could have crashed the plane in Detroit killing thousands of Americans. How much would that loss be in dollars?

Rice not Steele. Time for the brother to go.

Recent comments of Michele Steele does not inspire confidence at all. But greater odds have been surmounted in the past. Just think about George Washington as he led his beleaguered and battered strugglers on a winter march and crossed the Delaware for that decisive stand. What we have now is such a welling of popular support that anyone else will be more than optimistic about the GOP victory. Is Steele’s loyalty is with his homey in the oval. Does he feel unappreciated that his support for the party is half-hearted to say the least? I think he’s already jaded and cynical, so it’s time for new blood. I say bring back Condi Rice and let her lead the party to take back America.

Variety: Stock Opportunity, Used Electronics, Living Large

Live like a millionaire without spending a cent:
The single leading pastime of the richest Americans (net worth of >$10 million) is spending time with their children or grandchildren.  I think we can all do that and know how it feels to live like a millionaire.

Investment Opportunity from Stimulus:
$3.4 billion of stimulus funds will be used to modernize the power grid to better accommodate renewable sources e.g. solar & wind.  The likely benefeciaries of this are companies that increase energy efficiency e.g Ener-NOC, Esco Technologies Inc. & Echelon Corp.

Used Electronics Bought:
Sears, Walmart & Costco are giving gift cards for used cell phones, cameras, laptops & other electronic devices.  Go to  sears.gazelle.com, walmart.gazelle.com or costco.gazelle.com for details.

Preserving Children's Innocence, Purity & Chastity

I’ll start moving my kids to Catholic schools this year starting with my 10 year old. Every little thing can help or hinder. When it comes to their spiritual and character formation, I have decided to give it my all. For what does it profit them if they become a golf champion or the speaker of the House if they lose their souls? Also, the peer group is quite an influence. And in this sex crazed culture, I need to instill in them the virtue of purity and chastity and the last thing that I need is some other kid telling my son that masturbation is natural because his dad thinks so.  In Catholic schools, there is some selection and control. Also, I do not want them to come home with a fisting kit – compliments of the safe school czar. The in-parish tuition is 6 grand;  that's steep but it is well worth the innocence of my kids. 

( Pictures are:  Blessed Laura Vicuna (13 yrs. old.) & St. Dominic Savio (15 yrs. old) )

Fisting Kit

Dems Pyrrhic victory; Buffet's winning choices; Wearing my gas mask first

Pyrrhic victory:
Democrats may skip procedures to push through health care legislation.  Read more here.  They won so they can do what they like and ignore more than half of the nation.  Why are they acting like that in an election year where there are 435 House seats, 36 Senate seats and 37 Gubernatorial seats that are up for vote?  They may win in ramming this into a law but lose everything because of it.  Perhaps, it does not matter;  because, they might be getting some form of reimbursement that is worth the loss of their political careers - must be nice and big.

Buffet's choices:
From the book:  Warren Buffett's Management Secrets: Proven Tools for Personal and Business Success, his investment choices are based on companies that:
have a consistent upward ten-year trend in earnings per share,
have less debt than its competitors or on average less than five times net earnings and have high gross margins e.g. Moody's rating service, Burlington Northern Railroad, and Wrigley Gum are all > 50%.

My gas mask first:
In an emergency the procedure is to help myself with the gas mask before attending to the kids - common sense.  So, looking out for number 1 is not always selfish.  When my beloved wife wanted to visit her mom for the new year celebrations, I was wheezing with asthma so I told her to just go by themselves as I may not be able to handle driving to NJ in the bitter cold.  I did find rest and relief but their absence was debilitating.  Anyway the point was, one needs to love oneself first - not overly but enough and that's not evil.  If not, one can burn out and be resentful.

Covering for Santa. Life flashes in Facebook. Christian Communism.

Covering for Santa.
Santa messed up in my 7 year olds eyes.  Instead of Sponge Bob Legos, he brought Sponge Bob Play-doh.  So, my boy was mad and sad.  Tonight, we went to Target and ToysRUs to get him something that he likes.  The message that I am sending is that Santa might have given him Play-doh, but God gave him his dad who will try to make his wish come true.

Life Flashes in Facebook.
They say your life flashes before you as you die;  it must be something with the brain as the neural networks traverses all the nodes for one last time.  However, I see my life flashing before me now as I find almost everyone whom I have known in Facebook.  From cousins who grew up with me, childhood friends, classmates in the seminary, students, co-workers, companions in prayer groups, in-laws, out-laws almost everyone except for those who would rather not be my friends.  So as my life flashes, so do the lessons learned on how to live.

Christian Communism.
This seems to be the idea behind spreading the wealth - like it is a charitable thing to do.  However, Christian Communism is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms.  When the early Christian community pooled their properties, they did so willingly.  Taking people's properties by force, the way the Communists do, is immoral because people have a right to their possessions.  So, the idea of spreading the wealth is immoral.  And as a system, Communism has not worked.  Can anyone name a prosperous Communist or Socialist nation?  Even China has modified the economics of Communism such that is it quasi-Capitalist.  And one simply needs to look at history, in order to avoid it's mistakes.  I don't understand why some political leaders are acting as though the Berlin wall has not fallen, the U.S.S.R. has not disbanded and there is no famine in North Korea.

Original Vision of America. It's not just the big bucks.

My favorite ballad.  It's not just the big bucks.  It's about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  America is a haven for political opponents of dictators;  they need not fear for their lives anymore.  One can enjoy the freedoms provided by the bill of rights - a prerogative only of the ruling class in other places.  Finally, one has the chance to work for their dreams.  In other places, diligence and talent is not enough.  I hope and pray that America continues to be this land of opportunity for always.

Source :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3S7mlRYL-8 or click here
Bill of Rights from Wiki.

• First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, Freedom of Religion, and of assembly; right to petition,

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

• Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ^[5][6]

• Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

• Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

• Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

• Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

• Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

• Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

• Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.