Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Military chaplains told to shy from Jesus

It's too bad the military needs to be part of the culture war in the middle of the war on terror.

This story is discouraging.

"I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name," said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.

The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000 signatures on a petition seeking an executive order.

Seventy-three members of Congress have joined the request, saying in an Oct. 25 letter to the president, "In all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying."

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Gallup Poll Finds Americans' Belief in God Remains Strong

According to a new Gallup Poll, Americans' Belief in God Remains Strong. 94% think God exists. (HT:Drudge Report)

Monday, December 05, 2005

Thinking Right or Acting Left

Suppose those on the political right started thinking and legislating like those on the political left. Activities and beliefs that are considered harmful by those on the right would be taxed and regulated and activities that are considered virtuous by those on the right would be subsidized.

Research Grants would be funded by the government for every college and university that developed and promoted research programs into methods, tools, and nutritional supplements for creating more effective soldiers and more effective battlefield techniques. Institutions of higher learning would be shown preference based on the political beliefs of their professors. Additional awards would be based on the success of a developed technique that resulted in the actual assassination of a high ranking terrorist leader.

Abortion would technically remain legal, like cigarettes and guns, but would only be performed by a licensed abortion practitioner who was required to pay a majority of the fee for service in taxes and only after a considerable waiting period. The taxes would be increased every year to pay for public service announcements that condemned the abortionists and their victims. Children in public schools would be taught the evils of abortion and required to sign a pledge promising to never partake in such an evil act.

Couples who get married before living together would be given funds from the Federal government for a down payment on their first house. Those couples who are members of a licensed Church would be given an additional 25% to furnish the house. Child Care, transportation, education, and ancillary expenses would be paid by the government for each child until the child becomes an adult as long as the couple stays married and are members of a Church. Sunday morning employees of Fox News would get an exception to the Church rule.

Unmarried adults who impregnate or become pregnant would be required to pay a significant tax penalty as well as enter a sensitivity class that stresses the societal importance of marriage. The children of unmarried couples would be taught about the harmful effects of single parenthood in our public schools. The unmarried adult parents would retain no rights to object to the educational curriculum of their children.

Every adult would be required to own a gun. No exceptions, except for felons, who would be in jail and have no use for a gun for protection anyway. Those adults who could not afford to buy their own gun, would be supplied a gun and a sufficient amount of ammunition from the government.

PBS would be required to document the sacrifices being made by medium income Americans in order to pay the taxes that fund welfare and other transfer of wealth government programs. In addition, PBS would also have to report on an itemized account of how many funds go to the recipients of welfare and how many funds are absorbed into the government bureaucracy.

Every adult with the last name of Kennedy, and every adult related to a Kennedy, would be required to pay an additional 15% Income Tax for disgracing the name of a great President. Robert Kennedy Jr. would be required to pay double.

As a person who values freedom and truth above all else, I would not support any of these measures to attain a social benefit because the cost of coercion would be too morally expensive and out way the benefits of the outcome. However, I do wish those on the left cared more about truth and freedom even if they disagree with me on everything else.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Belief in Evolution

Tom Bethell has just written a great piece on the debate over Intelligent Design and the scientific problem with Darwinian evolution. Read Don't Fear the Designer