nemokc's Blog

There have been many anti-Obama comments on the web.   I find it interesting that so many of them comment on the personal and not on the policies or practices of the Senator.    This weekend I think truly showed the character of the two men who would be president.

When tens of thousands of Americans were being displaced by flood waters, our President continued his "farewell tour of Europe".    Senator John McCain however cancelled his Texas fundraiser for Monday night.    Of course, the  reason was because the press was asking him about why he was willing to associate with Clayton Williams, who in a 1990 guberatorial race joked that the similarity between the weather & rape was that "if it's inevitable, just enjoy it"    We're talking about a real humanitarian here!  In Sen. McCain's defense, he did cancel the event once it was brought to his attention by the media.  (Of course, you wonder why no one thought to google this guy before they agreed to a fundraiser.)  (You also have to wonder about McCain keeping the money...you know the uproar that would happen if Obama tried to keep money from a source like this.)

How did Senator Obama spend the weekend?    He also cancelled a fundraising event.   His was in Iowa & he was unwilling to pull police officers from flood relief efforts for his protective detail.   He did however show up in Southern Illinois to fill a few sandbags & do interviews with local stations to bring attention to where sandbagging efforts were taking place.    A photo op?  Sure, but it was also used to bring in more local volunteers for the sandbagging efforts & as the Senator represents Illinois, it does seem to be appropriate that he was there.

It should also be noted that for the past week, the home page of Obama's website has shown a link to the American Red Cross for flood relief donations.  (This is not typical behavior of a candidate raising money for a general election)   He has also sent e-mails to his extensive e-mail list requesting donations to the Red Cross & listing sandbagging sites for those close to the flooding.

I hope the next time you read an e-mail telling you Obama is unpatriotic because he doesn't wear a flag pin or he's a secret muslim or a radical christian or the anti-christ  or any other silly rumor; you stop to think.    Maybe all that fine rhetoric is for real.   Maybe he really does care about America.    Maybe the reason so much time is spent attacking him personally with lies is because that's the only defense the Republicans have got this year

Sarah Tucholsky of Western Oregon University hit a home run yesterday during a women's college softball game with two runners on base.   This would not be newsworthy except that while running the bases....she tore a ligament in her knee and couldn't finish running the bases.

According to the umpire the rules are clear...if her teammates helped her, she was out.   If a pinch runner was used, then it would only count as a single and Western Oregon wouldn't score.   

Then something wonderful happened.    First baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace went out and carried Ms. Tucholsky around the bases driving in two runs.    You see, Ms. Holtman & Ms. Tucholsky play for Central Washington....the opposing team.    Western Oregon University won the playoff game & advanced.    Central Washington is now out of the playoffs.

“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” Holtman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”  

You see, she understands a basic truth about life & softball...winning isn't everything.   A "hollow victory" may be a win but it's a moral loss.   How you win or lose is more important than merely winning.

If only our politicians on both sides of the aisle could learn this lesson!

Sarah Tucholsky of Western Oregon University hit a home run yesterday during a women's college softball game with two runners on base.   This would not be newsworthy except that while running the bases....she tore a ligament in her knee and couldn't finish running the bases.

According to the umpire the rules are clear...if her teammates helped her, she was out.   If a pinch runner was used, then it would only count as a single and Western Oregon wouldn't score.   

Then something wonderful happened.    First baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace went out and carried Ms. Tucholsky around the bases driving in two runs.    You see, Ms. Holtman & Ms. Tucholsky play for Central Washington....the opposing team.    Western Oregon University won the playoff game & advanced.    Central Washington is now out of the playoffs.

“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” Holtman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”  

You see, she understands a basic truth about life & softball...winning isn't everything.   A "hollow victory" may be a win but it's a moral loss.   How you win or lose is more important than merely winning.

If only our politicians on both sides of the aisle could learn this lesson!

I have often written on this site that blind hatred towards all muslims is both wrong and dangerous.   Unfortunately, today this was proved here at home in Kansas City.    A young man entered a convenient store in Lenexa, asked the clerk if he was "Muslim or Christian".   When the clerk replied "Muslim", the man walked out & threw a brick through the window.    He also threw a moltov cocktail through the broken window, which thankfully did not ignite.

There are many who blog here often about hating all muslims, how all muslims are killers and all muslims want to kill Americans.   Some people have even advocated killing all muslims and obviously this young man took your rhetoric seriously!   So here are some questions for those of you who advocate hatred against muslims.

How do you justify his actions?    

Do you bear any responsibility for his actions because you have created a climate of hate & fear towards all Muslims?  

How does a moltov cocktail thrown in Kansas City differ from a moltov cocktail thrown in Gaza or Bagdad?

If that cocktail had ignited & killed the muslim clerk, do you think he has family that would mourn his death?

What if your child had been standing in line in that store?

I have recently posted in several blogs that I disagree with what the Rev. Wright had to say.   I had seen the news clips (who hasn't, they play non-stop on cable news) and was angered by what I saw and heard.    Eventually, somebody pointed out to me that all three clips strung together came to less than 6 minutes of tape.   She suggested that it did not seem to be a fair sample when you consider a 35 year career as a minister.   I dismissed this suggestion because "everyone knows his church is radical" and as an agnostic, it doesn't really matter to me.   I was concerned about the issues of the campaign.   I was concerned with the discussion of race that Obama's speech should generate.   I was NOT concerned with the Rev. Jerimiah Wright.   While thinking about writing this, I went looking on the internet for a longer clip of that now infamous speech.   I found it.    Ten minutes worth of footage.  Five minutes on either side of the "known" quote.     Now I AM concerned!   PLEASE TAKE 10 MINUTES OF YOUR DAY & VIEW THIS FOOTAGE ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!   I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT IN UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW "BAD" THIS MAN REALLY IS!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4RLONpTzEE    Then take a few more minutes to check this out:   http://youtube.com/watch?v=B3sVLHdi_o0

I am an agnostic with friends that are Christian, Muslim & Jewish.   I have spent much time discussing politics with them and enjoying both the difference in thier views & the similarities between their views.   I am also a realist, THERE ARE EXTREMISTS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD WHO WISH TO HARM AMERICA.   That is not to say that every muslim is a terrorist.   Not that you would know that to read some of the blogs I've seen here.

Over the past few months while blogging on this site, I have been amazed at the hatred, fear & venom directed towards Muslims and Senator Obama (WHO IS NOT A MUSLIM) by many of the regular bloggers.   They print incredible lies (that are easily disproved by a google search) and make wild accusations with no regard to the truth of the statement.   What is even more amazing is that when I go to thier bio page to see what type of person it is who makes these unproved accusations, it seems to always read something like, "I'm a mother of three, who loves to knit and teach Sunday School.   God is the most important part of my life and I have two cats & a dog named MUFFINS"     

Now I know that all Christians are not like this, but how do some "Christians" manage to blend this hatred with thier spirtual life so easily?    Was there a verse that I missed in between "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" and "Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God".     Some unknown verse that gives a blessing to hatred & fear?

They have no problem with making any statment no matter how inaccurate it might be and passing these unproved rumors on to others as if they were straight from the gospels.    I read in Mathew 12:36-37   "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned"    So how do these good "Christians" justify the rumors, lies & gossip that they spread?   Or does this particular verse not apply to them?

They love to point thier finger & condemn the actions of others.   "Senator Obama is a godless muslim who fakes his Christianity at a radical & racist church."    According to Sen. Obama, he was an athiest who started going to church because the church is where you go to organize community action on the South Side of Chicago.   He "claims" that while there he found God & has been a Christian ever since.   I don't know if he is telling the truth or not, though I personally have no reason to doubt....it just seems like a question that needs to be answered between the Senator & God.   

What I don't understand is how do so many people judge his relationship with Christ and then become angry if you try to do the same to them.   "Only God can judge me!", I've been told numerous times.   And I agree, only God can judge you; but that raises the ugly question of "Why do you have the right to judge the Senator's relationship with God?"  (Or anyone elses relationship with God, for that matter.)  Didn't Paul have a similar problem with the Corinthians after he was "blinded by the light".   And if you can easily believe the story of how Paul found salvation, why is it so hard to believe that God can be found in an weird church in a bad neighborhood on Chicago's South Side?

So the question boils down to this:   AS A CHRISTIAN, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE YOUR ACTIONS WITH WHAT YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN?   (Or do you teach your children to hate too?)