Honor Killings

I sometimes get confused when I think about Honor Killings in the United States.  Those of us who notice, and who worry about the presence of unrestricted Islamic activities, of which honor killings are one, get pretty bent out of shape about them.

Right now, people are wondering about the Maricopa County judge who sentenced a man to 33 1/4 years (BTW--the 1/4 year means he can't get parole in in AZ!) for killing his daughter for being "dirty" because she wasn't some hijab wearing slave girl.  he said it wasn't good to give it a label like "Honor Killing" when it was nothing more than a parent killing their child, a simple and detestable crime.  It shouldn't be given, in his thought , a name that glorifies it, or sets it off from other parental murders.

He's right, it is simply the murder of  a child by a parent--and shouldn't be given any sort of status above that--it's simply a sordid murder.

But while we are all aghast--don't we tolerate many, many many more murders of children on their parents order, by Doctors?  How can a country that tolerates, legalizes, funds and at times celebrates Abortion be worried about Honor Killings?  After all, it's just a parent killing their child, without worries fro Law Enforcement.

Americans are, by and large, hypocrites.

Problems in the News

I've noticed a couple of problems in the news this week.

The first is a headline concerning Alabama's laws on illegal immigrants working there.  The Media were reporting that Mexico and some 15 other nations have filed briefs against this law.  The problem is this--the story reported that Alabama's law makes being an "undocumented worker" a crime.  I call BS on that!  Being in the country without documents is already a crime.  They are not "undocumented workers" they are Illegal Immigrants who have violated federal law by being here in the first place.  Moreover, the law doesn't make being an illegal immigrant a crime, it makes hiring them a crime under State Law, which is legal and admirable.  This moreover is merely propaganda for the illegal immigrant lobby.   The real story here is that forign nations are attempting to use the courts to negate the 10th amendments rights of the Several States, in order to facilitate the remissions of cash that the illegals often send home.  It's foreign nations using the courts to mask their peoples illegal and harmful looting of the US economy for jobs and cash.  I'm don't think that such journalism is treason, but it's for sure disloyal to the People of the US, who are the ones hurt, and an example of hatred of ourselves, our polity, freedom and security that the Media so often displays.

The other thing that just rubbed me wrong was  the news announcement that an agreement on the debt ceiling was reached.  CBS interrupted regular programing, which is OK--but the virtually the first thing out of the reporters mouth was a declaration that "Obama has managed to forge an agreement".  This isn't just slant, it's not just bias, and it's not just a wrong; it is a lie.  If one would remember just abut two weeks ago, Congress froze Obama out of the process telling him, bluntly, that his job was to sign or not sign legislation, and their job was to write and pass it, especially the budget, and that that was a constitutional division of powers.  Obama's remarks were the usual self serving misinformation one expects of politicians, but the CBS' attempt to paint him as St. Obama the wonder worker were horrid, unethical, false and wrong.  If anyone deserves the credit, or blame as the case may be, it's John Boehner, what ever one thinks of him.The best coverage of the whole thing was found on the BBC.  The Beeb was the only mainstream outlet I heard where it was even presented realistically, and not as some sort of bait in partisan politics between Democrats and Republicans, but as a very divisive, ongoing national debate, even ideological conflict, about the nature and role of government and law.

The Ladies and Gentlemen (I almost gagged writing that, BTW) have moved their profession forward from informing and persuading the public, and watching the government with jaundiced eye, toward trying tore-write events to suit their personal politics.  They have rooted their profession in the traditions of  William Randolph Hearst--amazingly, because in the 60s, 70s and 80s his name was pariah among the progressives.  I guess he simply backed the wrong side, and they admire his methods.

Goebbels would be proud.

I Wish...

...I were a religious man.  But I have decided that I am not really religious, I just wish I were.

Oh I believe all right.  Of that have no doubt.  But I have to question whether I am actually religious.  If I were really religious, I do some things very differently than I do now.

I'd put myself second a lot more than I do.   I would also be more responsive to the will of the Lord--I would treat him as my Lord, in a very literal sense, with my ear always cocked for the sound of his voice, instead of stuffed with music and news and conversations for the sake of themselves.   If I were religious I'd spend much more time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, where any man is privileged beyond human reckoning to kneel!  If I were religious, I'd spend much more time praying for the sake of prayer, rather than the sake of piety, taking my greatest joy in speaking to and listening for My Lord.

I'd complain a lot less about the Bishops and the problems in the Church, and spend more time being the Change I think we need.  I'd learn to sing the hymns instead of just listening and singing in my head, for the sake of raising my voice in praise.  I'd be more apt to go out of my way to serve God through His Church.

If I were really a religious man, I'd smile more, laugh more and be joyful more, because just look at all the blessings I have to be joyful about!!!!!  I spend more time playing with kids, telling them stories and teaching them about the Saints and Sacraments.  I'd cook more, and invite more people to share the table.

If I were really religious I wouldn't feel bad about my lack of teeth, because I'd be staring in wonder at the very idea of teeth.

If I were really religious I wouldn't go to confession every six to eight weeks--I'd go every week, with less cause, and greater rejoicing at the mystery and wonder of absolution. 

If I were religious I wouldn't be so aghast at politics, because I would be too busy praying for our leaders, and be trusting in the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, and looking forward to the Parousia--not worrying about our liberties, and well being, but trusting in Providence that i would end up in Heaven, for eternity, the which makes whatever happens to us here just a short snap of the fingers.

If I were religious, I wouldn't shy away from so many people I meet, thinking them dangerous, or smelly or nuts, not considering that they are outcasts or stupid or troublesome.  Instead, I would greet each as a child of God, a unique creation, as I believe them to be, and keep in mind that Jesus died for them too.  And for even the most repugnant, I would remember that lepers Jesus cured, and those that Francis loved.

I believe, all the way, without reservations.  But I really wish I were a religious man.

My Apologies...

...for not blogging more since my vacation.  I'm a bit under the weather with Lyme Disease, and get headaches when I try to write or type. for longer than about 2 minutes.