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Current Events, Perspective, Political

What might have been

It looks like some Democratic members of Congress are backing off their support for the Armenian Genocide resolution (see: Support Wanes in House for Genocide Vote from the NY Times).

It seems odd in light of the President and Congress honoring the Dali Lama (see: Bush and Congress Honor Dalai Lama in Plain View also from the NY Times).

Bush and the Congress are willing to go toe-to-toe with the Chinese who, as of this point in history, can literally squeeze the United States until we cry (i.e., they own all our debt and can ravage our economy). See particularly: China may lead US economy to collapse dumping US dollar from Pravda.

This past August, two Chinese government officials highlighted China’s massive U.S. dollar holdings (which include treasuries) and how it supports the value of the U.S. currency. They also noted that Beijing could use those holdings as a political weapon to counter congressional calls to revalue the yuan and impose trade sanctions on Chinese goods. Chinese state media referred to the country’s stockpile of U.S. dollars as its economic —nuclear option,— capable of destroying the dollar at will.

It would seem that we have more to fear from China than from an almost third world Islamic state like Turkey who depends largely on U.S. support (upwards of $26.5 billion in economic and military aid, not counting other “special” aid programs that specifically target Turkey and IsraelU.S. Department of State: Turkey 09/07 and CRS Report for Congress, Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy, Updated April 15, 2004).

I think a hint to the sudden change-of-heart among the few can be found in the various articles that circulated in recent days. They noted that Turkey would cut off logistical support for the U.S. war effort in Iraq. It appears something like 30% of the fuel and 70% support materials going to our troops in Iraq go through Turkey. For instance, from CNN:

“More than half of the cargo flown into Iraq and Afghanistan comes through Incirlik Air Base, and this base would be a key component of any plans for redeployment of our troops in the future,” they wrote.

Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Pentagon planners are looking at “a broad range of options” to keep food, fuel and ammunition flowing to U.S. troops in Iraq if Turkey blocks Incirlik.

“We’re confident that we’ll find ways to do that,” Ham told reporters at the Pentagon. “There’s likely to be some increased cost and some other implications for that, and obviously we’d prefer to maintain the access that we have.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates echoed lawmakers’ concerns last week.

“About 70 percent of all air cargo going into Iraq goes through Turkey. … About a third of the fuel that they consume goes through Turkey or comes from Turkey,” Gates said.

Now if the Democrats were smart they would do all they could to anger the Turks. Let them cut off our supply chain. This might just be the thing that needs doing in order to capsize Mr. Bush’s war. We would end up like the Germans, stuck in Africa or Russia at the far end of the supply chain – only saved because we should be smart enough to get out while we can.

Time to bring ’em home.

But then again, no Democrat wants to end the war either. If they did, they would cut Mr. Bush’s supply of money and material, whatever it takes.

Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political, , ,

One honest statement

As the Young Fogey might point out, politics is about playing a game for influence and votes. It is rare to find politicos doing things for right and proper reason. He might also rightly point out that we should be careful so that we “don’t get played” in their political process.

Today’s vote by Congress on the Armenian Genocide was one of those rare moments when politicians (and yes I understand that some come from districts with large Armenian immigrant populations) did the right thing in the face of pressure.

They basically said to heck with lobbyists (paid for by the Turkish government), President Bush (it will hurt the “war on terror”), and tons of other politicos who pander to Turkey because they act as an errand boy between the Arabs and Israelis/Arabs and NATO.

Of course everyone realizes that Turkish “democracy” is a carefully contrived facade at best. Free speech – eh, no. Freedom of religion – eh, no. But for Mr. Bush at least, a half friend and untruth are more important than the truth – the ends justify the means.

From the NY Times: House Panel Raises Furor on Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 —” A House committee voted on Wednesday to condemn the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in World War I as an act of genocide, rebuffing an intense campaign by the White House and warnings from Turkey’s government that the vote would gravely strain its relations with the United States.

The vote by the House Foreign Relations Committee was nonbinding and so largely symbolic, but its consequences could reach far beyond bilateral relations and spill into the war in Iraq.

Turkish officials and lawmakers warned that if the resolution was approved by the full House, they would reconsider supporting the American war effort, which includes permission to ship essential supplies through Turkey and northern Iraq.

President Bush appeared on the South Lawn of the White House before the vote and implored the House not to take up the issue, only to have a majority of the committee disregard his warning at the end of the day, by a vote of 27 to 21.

—We all deeply regret the tragic suffering of the Armenian people that began in 1915,— Mr. Bush said in remarks that, reflecting official American policy, carefully avoided the use of the word genocide. —This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings, and its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in NATO and in the global war on terror.—

The resolution, which was introduced early in the current session of Congress and which has quietly moved forward over the last few weeks, provoked a fierce lobbying fight that pitted the politically influential Armenian-American population against the Turkish government, which hired equally influential former lawmakers like Robert L. Livingston, Republican of Louisiana, and Richard A. Gephardt, the former Democratic House majority leader who backed a similar resolution when he was in Congress.

Backers of the resolution said Congressional action was overdue.

—Despite President George Bush twisting arms and making deals, justice prevailed,— said Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat of California and a sponsor of the resolution. —For if we hope to stop future genocides we need to admit to those horrific acts of the past…—

In a similar vein, Polish-Americans and Poles recall that in 1951-52 a Congressional investigation (the Madden Committee) into the Katyn Massacre (also here), documented much of the truth surrounding the enormity of the Katyn crimes committed by the Russians after the coordinated Nazi German – Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939I realize that this was at the start of the Cold War, and served a purpose in rallying Polish-Americans to the Cold War cause, after they had been kicked around by Truman and company at Yalta. Still, it did recognize the fact that the massacres occurred and laid the blame on the perpetrators..

Sometimes Congress finds the wherewithal to shed some light on historic events.

Oh, and let the Turks react. What will they do? Kill more Christians, close more churches, invade Iraq, stop pretending to be a democracy…? They will bow because we can choke off those huge foreign aid payments that keep them quiet.

Current Events, Perspective, Political, ,

For the glass house crowd

As you may have read, New York’s governor, Eliot Spitzer, has revoked an Executive Order formerly put in place by George Pataki. By revoking the order, he will be providing an opportunity for illegal immigrants to obtain NY drivers licenses.

Of course, 58% of New Yorkers are opposed to this, with the strongest dissension among upstate New Yorkers (the Downstaters know better, they live in closer proximity to the illegals they rely on each day – are are less hypocritical about it).

Yesterday, New York’s Association of Country Clerks stated that they would not obey the governor and would not issue licenses as required.

Legal wrangling will certainly ensue.

Here’s a few quotes from the Albany Times Union: 13 clerks against Spitzer

County officials to defy driver’s license change, citing security concerns, pressure from constituents

ALBANY — Citing security concerns as well as pressure from constituents, 13 county clerks on Thursday said they would defy Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s order to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

“This is an issue of safety and security for New Yorkers,” said Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione, who added that people have been walking into her Ballston Spa office to speak out against the plan since it was announced late last month…

The not so funny thing about all of this is the hypocrisy of those who are fighting the governor. They fall into a two broad categories:

  • The broad brush crowd: Immigrants are potential terrorists. We must be protected from their wily ways.
  • The out-and-out hypocrites: They are illegal, they shouldn’t be here, they deserve nothing.

Now the errors of the broad brush crowd are pretty obvious. They are bigots. Basically neo-nativists.

The other folks, the hypocrites, well they live in tony suburbs, eat at restaurants, buy groceries, get their car repaired, their lawns manicured, their manure, mulch, and lawn chemicals applied, their houses painted, their driveways sealed, their children cared for, their clothes sewn…

They save money, avoiding legitimate businesses and stores that charge more, and do everything in their power to save that last dime (because they are overspent and living on credit anyway), all on the backs of these very same illegal workers they would so readily deport.

Their 2,500 sq. ft. home was built with non-union labor, mostly illegal workers, saving them tons of do-re-mi.

Hey, how did Jose get to your house to mow the lawn? The truck brought him. How did he get to the employer’s jumping-off point? I don’t know (nor do I much care).

Did you know that Consuela and Yuan are out back chopping vegetables for your dinner tonight? Huh?

If these County Clerks and their constituents are so bent on ‘enforcing the law,’ perhaps they should card check everyone they do business with. Card check those restaurant workers out back, the lawn guy, the carpenter at your new house. But, if they had to think about that, they would quickly fall in with the bigot crowd.

‘I couldn’t do that, those brown people might hurt me.’

Frankly, I am ok with letting these folks have licenses. I am also all for protecting them from the myriad of bad employers out there who treat them like unprotected slave laborers. Of course others disagree.

While I agree with your right to disagree, I would then urge you to be very careful about those you do business with. You can’t have it both ways. If you’re all focused on being legal, be prepared, and pay that premium. Otherwise, you’re just throwing stones, and soon all your windows will be broken, and nobody will be around to clean up the broken glass, or put the new windows in.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political,

Proclaim it brother

From the BBC: Pope ‘refused audience for Rice’

Pope Benedict XVI refused a recent request by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss the Middle East and Iraq, Vatican sources say.

The Pope refused a request for an audience during the August holidays.

Senior Vatican sources told the BBC the Pope does not normally receive politicians on his annual holiday at the Castelgandolfo residence near Rome.

But one leading Italian newspaper said it was an evident snub by the Vatican towards the Bush administration.

Christian rights

There are at least two reasons why Pope Benedict may have decided peremptorily against a private meeting with Ms Rice.

First, it was Ms Rice who just before the outbreak of the Iraq war in March 2003 made it clear to a special papal envoy sent from Rome, Cardinal Pio Laghi, that the Bush administration was not interested in the views of the late Pope on the immorality of launching its planned military offensive.

Secondly, the US has responded in a manner considered unacceptable at the Vatican to the protection of the rights of Iraqi Christians under the new Iraqi constitution.

The Bush administration has told the Vatican that as coalition forces have not succeeded in securing the whole territory of Iraq, they are unable to protect non-Muslims.

Instead of meeting the Pope, Ms Rice had to make do with a telephone conversation with the Vatican’s number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was visiting the US during August on other business.

Witness can be quiet or loud, subtle or direct. I say Amen to this approach. Would that more Christians witness in such a manner, especially in this country.

Just say no!

Current Events, Perspective, Political

Well, that didn’t take too long…

The bear begins to wake.

Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney are home again. Ah, all is well in the world, except, maybe this time, another country will claim to have God on its side (and remember, regardless of who is doing the claiming, it is a lie).

rosja_bronia_bogata_1874466.jpg

The photo is from AFP via Interia in Poland. I like the one comment that was posted with this photo titled Diabeł i Bóg (the devil and God).

The article is about Russia getting rich off arms sales. In 2006 Russian arms sales reached $6.5 billion, the best ever. Sales were made to 64 countries.

I wonder if I can still hire a firm to construct a fallout shelter? If not, I’m thinking business opportunity…

Current Events, Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political

Meanwhile, back in Buffalo

When I lived in Buffalo the place was still segregated into little ethnic communities. There wasn’t much sharing that went on – each group remained isolated, and kept its treasures hidden under the bushel basket – accessible only to fellow travelers.

As the city breaks down, and anyone who can leaves (see the City’s very own population trends and estimates at Buffalo’s Comprehensive Plan), those neighborhood enclaves aren’t as sacrosanct as they once were.

The breakdown of a community reveals some of the nastier charactersI grew up in Kaisertown, a Polish enclave. This is where I was called a polack for the first time – by a grade school principal, with whom I was meeting, to discuss issues of language education. She herself was the child of immigrants. ethic enclaving creates.

Two examples from today’s Buffalo News:

Former state employee wins $150,000 in reverse discrimination case

Mark Pasternak said he lost his state job helping troubled youths because he couldn’t stand working under a black boss who called him racist names like —cracker,— —polack— and —stupid white boy.—

Pasternak was dismissed from his position as a youth worker with the state Office of Children and Family Services in 1999. But today, he feels some relief and vindication.

After a rare reverse racial discrimination trial in Buffalo’s federal court, a jury Tuesday awarded Pasternak $150,000. Jurors found that his former boss, Tommy E. Baines, discriminated against him racially and created a hostile working environment.

…

Pasternak was subjected to three years of cruel abuse from Baines, a veteran supervisor with the agency formerly known as the state Division for Youth, according to Pasternak’s attorney, David J. Seeger.

The abuse came in the form of race-based slurs, job sabotage and crude insults that Baines made about Pasternak in front of co-workers, according to court papers and testimony…

Enough said on this one. Let’s go on – to a State Senator…

Volker apologizes for using ethnic term

[State] Sen. Dale M. Volker issued an apology Wednesday for uttering a rarely used, offensive ethnic term Monday.

Volker, R-Depew, had dropped in on a meeting in the Lancaster Opera House to discuss Lancaster’s deteriorating Cemetery Road bridge. In his comments to the audience, Volker made disparaging remarks about a Rochester Institute of Technology engineering professor who had criticized the bridge’s condition in the media.

He called Abi Aghayere a —bohunk,— a disparaging term for a person of central European descent, especially a laborer. Aghayere is from Nigeria, according to the RIT Web site.

Volker issued a statement Wednesday saying the word —may have been misinterpreted, misunderstood and a poor choice for which I am sincerely apologetic and one which I regret.—

Craig Miller, Volker’s spokesman, said Wednesday that Volker did not mean the term in a derogatory or malicious way, even though it might have sounded that way.

—I think he looked at the word ‘bohunk’ as ‘an outsider,’ someone from the outside looking in,— Miller said. —I, myself, have never heard of the term…—

So, the Senator desires that we break people down into two camps – insiders and outsiders. I wonder, what would the better choice of words been?

Very good Senator. I can just about guess where you learned that insider/outsider distinction – from mom or dad, grandma or grandpa calling those stupid polacks that invaded their neighborhood bohunks.

‘Be careful young Dale, those pretty bohunk girls are gonna get you. We wouldn’t want that in our nice German bloodlines now would we…’

It always seems to be about us and them, insiders and outsiders. Somehow, the face of Christ disappears when we look into the eyes of those mysterious (oh, and aren’t they dangerous) outsiders.

Who said Natavist idealogy was dead?

Current Events, Perspective, Political

Saddam, Saddam, we want Saddam

From CNN: U.S. officials rethink hopes for Iraq democracy

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Nightmarish political realities in Baghdad are prompting American officials to curb their vision for democracy in Iraq. Instead, the officials now say they are willing to settle for a government that functions and can bring security.

A workable democratic and sovereign government in Iraq was one of the Bush administration’s stated goals of the war.

But for the first time, exasperated front-line U.S. generals talk openly of non-democratic governmental alternatives, and while the two top U.S. officials in Iraq still talk about preserving the country’s nascent democratic institutions, they say their ambitions aren’t as “lofty” as they once had been.

“Democratic institutions are not necessarily the way ahead in the long-term future,” said Brig. Gen. John “Mick” Bednarek, part of Task Force Lightning in Diyala province, one of the war’s major battlegrounds.

The comments reflect a practicality common among Western diplomats and officials trying to win hearts and minds in the Middle East and other non-Western countries where democracy isn’t a tradition.

The failure of Iraq to emerge from widespread instability is a bitter pill for the United States, which optimistically toppled the Saddam Hussein regime more than four years ago…

Recap: We send 160,000 troops to a foreign country that did nothing to us (probably more like 400,000 with rotations and all). We take over 3,700 US Service deaths, tens of thousands of casualties, in excess of 500,000 Iraqis die (see all the gruesome numbers at Iraq Coalition Casualty Count) destroy the country, while our own roads and bridges fall apart, all so we can install a new Saddam?

Wouldn’t it have been well enough to leave the old guy in place? He had a government that function[ed] and [brought] security…

Also see Wonkette: U.S. Generals Finally Admit They’re Not In Iraq For ‘Democracy,’ Either (caution – strong language).

Lord have mercy on us.

Current Events, Perspective, Political

The favored complaining against favoritism

From the Buffalo News: Bills’ new parking plan raises discrimination concern

Officials see handicapped parking in one lot convenient; disability advocates see injustice

The Buffalo Bills put up an —iron curtain— for people with disabilities by creating a separate parking lot for fans with handicapped-parking permits, a local advocacy group for the disabled charged Monday.

The Bills’ new parking plan, unveiled at Friday night’s preseason opener, moves all vehicles with handicapped permits into Lot B —” between the press box and Abbott Road —” rather than providing limited spaces for handicapped vehicles in several lots.

That change didn’t sit well with the Western New York Independent Living Project.

—If you took any other minority population in Erie County, and I said in order to provide better services for Irish or African-American people, we’re going to designate a special lot for you to park in, you wouldn’t even think of doing that,— said Todd Vaarwerk, disability rights advocate for the project. —We would find that offensive.—

In a news release announcing the project’s opposition to the parking plan, Douglas Usiak, executive director, cited a saying often echoed by Independent Living Center officials:

—If you insert the word ‘black,’ ‘Jew’ or ‘female’ into a statement and it doesn’t sound right, it most likely isn’t,— Usiak stated…

I don’t know, but to me, this complaining is just plain wrong. I am also very much opposed to the ‘well you wouldn’t do it to [insert ethnic/gender label here]’ sort of reasoning that people fall back on. It indicates a weak mind and a weak argument. People who believe in something should be able to provide a reasoned statement about why something is important to them. Instead, they rely on emotion which just makes them look petty and childish.

Doug Usiak, long time director of the Independent Living Center (going back about 25+ years now) must need publicity or something. It comes down to complaining about the favored status he has always wanted.

‘I told you I wanted my soup hot, how dare you serve it to me when it is this hot!!!’

The law requires specially designated handicapped parking spaces, that is, favored status (because we have to legislate common courtesy, and even today some folks still don’t get it – but some never will).

Using Mr. Usiak’s analogy, lets change the name of all those existing parking spots to some ethnic/gender label. How does it look, how does it sound? Does it pass the “sounds right” test. And, by-the-way, sounds right to whom? The keepers of what public sentiment should be?

It seems that the ILC is complaining that the favored status being granted (by the Buffalo Bills – and, I am not a fan) is not the way in which the group would like their favored status served. Therefore it is bad, very bad.

Perhaps, the whole idea of corralling people and pointing them out by an act of law is just plain wrong.

What would happen if the general public (save for a few who just don’t get it) left the first row of parking spots open, just becauseEver see those reserved for employee-of-the-month, reserved for families with children signs. They are not legislated. I’ve never seen people ignoring those signs – again, except for a few who don’t get it.?

What would happen if we asked people to be good neighbors and to exercise compassion? What would happen if we began to act like good citizens and believers in whichever ‘golden rule’ we each claim to follow? Would there be a wholesale run on those blue spots?

Current Events, Media, Perspective, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political,

Of comments, heat, and the Rev. Rydzyk

My recent posting on the possibility of an Indian National Catholic Church (INCC) elicited a few comments.

It seems that when I post something slightly provocative I get a few comments.

I’ve often wondered if my homilies are too staid. They don’t tend to obtain comments or criticism to any extent (by-the-way, I appreciate Fr. Martin Fox’s and Deacon Dan Wright’s occasional comments on my homilies). I’m thinking that my homilies should be more provocative, contain more heat, ne pas?

Now obviously my commentary on the possibility of an INCC was slightly tongue-in-cheek.

The real point was an exhibition of issues faith communities face when dealing with an administrative bureaucracy that evolves into a roadblock to faith and a detriment to communal interaction – for the faith.

That bureaucracy is the self-same faced by the founders of the PNCC so many years ago. It is the same bureaucracy Luther faced down. The same bureaucracy that any genuine reformer has had to deal with (and remember Bishop Hodur tried to work from the inside on reasonable reform).

Now the Rev. Tadeusz Rydzyk, CSsR is another case-in-point.

This priest has built an enormous empire that is centered around his media outlet, primarily Radio Maryja. With down-to-earth appeals (the Holy Mass, Rosary, children calling in to recite prayers), he has appealed to working class and rural listenersThe MSM characterization of those who follow Radio Maryja as poor and uneducated Poles (read dumb Pollacks) is deeply insulting and incorrect. I’ve personally seen children come from these villages, enter an American High School, and come out a year later as valedictorians. I hope that the MSM gets a clue someday about the people they put down so willingly. who have a strong grounding in their faith. I say, nothing wrong with that.

Rather than focus on those core themes, and activating people through prayer, self-sacrifice, and charity, he has corrupted his empire into a money making political machine. He has not activated Catholics, he has activated politicos.

He holds sway over a large sector of “conservativeAs the Young Fogey would point out, not at all like real conservatives” voters; and much in the same manner as Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson, etc., he has ushered in political leaders, from whom he expects allegiance.

The threat of censure has been hung over his head by the Polish Bishops, but in reality they do nothing.

This, like the INCC issue, is meant to point to the weaknesses in a bureaucracy that is in need of reform. Maybe you would call it another stop, a sign post in the Twilight Zone of reform.

As to the Rev. Rydzyk, in my opinion he is in need of strong medicine, so that he might recall who and what he is, a priest, a member of the Redemptorists, and a servant of Jesus Christ and His Church. The Roman Church, being true to what She represents, would do well to have the Superior General of the Redemptorists call him to repentance, and remove him from his empire. A good priest would walk away, sic transit gloria mundi. Should he refuse, suspend him. Should he further refuse, excommunicate him.

But, all that is dependent upon the action of a bureaucracy.

A story on the Rev. Rydzyk’s most recent foray into identity politics and his reach into the political arena follows:

From the AP via the UJF of Tidewater: Israel urges Poland, Catholic church to condemn priest over anti-Semitic comments

WARSAW, Poland – Israel is urging Polish and Roman Catholic authorities to condemn a prominent priest over reported anti-Jewish comments, which its ambassador described Monday as the worst case of anti-Semitic speech in Poland in decades.

The Rev. Tadeusz Rydzyk, who runs a conservative media empire that includes the Catholic station Radio Maryja, was allegedly caught on tape suggesting that Jews are greedy and Polish President Lech Kaczynski is subservient to Jewish lobbies.

The remarks allegedly were made in the spring, but they only surfaced this month in the weekly magazine Wprost. Rydzyk himself has rejected accusations of anti-Semitism and said he “didn’t intend to offend anyone.”

Israel’s ambassador to Poland, David Peleg, said the statements mark a setback in the progress Poland has made toward Jewish-Catholic reconciliation and in fighting anti-Semitism since Communism fell, and said extensive diplomatic efforts were under way to persuade Warsaw to condemn the priest.

…

“I hope to see a condemnation from the Catholic Church of Poland,” Peleg said.

So far, Poland’s leaders have withheld comment, saying they were waiting to see if the tapes were authentic.

But the Rome-based Redemptorists – the missionary order to which Rydzyk belongs – supported him in a statement published last week in Nasz Dziennik, a daily newspaper that belongs to Rydzyk’s media empire.

“Concerning the content of the ‘tapes,’ which bear signs of compilation, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk does not confirm the anti-Semitic attitude ascribed to him. And as his brothers who know him, we know that such an attitude is alien to him,” the order’s chief representative in Poland, the Rev. Zdzislaw Klafka, wrote in a statement printed on the front page of Nasz Dziennik.

Klafka also called Wprost’s scoop a “serious provocation” and “media manipulation” and said Wprost has a history of offending Catholics.

Rydzyk himself has suggested the tapes were doctored.

The tapes allegedly caught Rydzyk accusing President Kaczynski of subservience to Jewish lobbies. He also allegedly called the nation’s first lady, Maria Kaczynska, a “witch” for supporting abortion rights and said she should be euthanized for that.

Oh, and bring on the heat…

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