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Christian Witness, Current Events, Media, Perspective,

Imus, Ima, Imum

A little Lingua Latina humor from my college days.

Frankly, as far as I’m concerned, fire every shock jock, talking head, conservative, liberal, doctor, or anyone with an opinion from every radio and television station. These people make my skin crawl.

People who listen to them fall into two categories.

  1. Those who need affirmation in their beliefs.
  2. Those who are looking to have their empty heads filled with something.

I grew-up listening to WKBW-AM radio in Buffalo. These guys had enough broadcasting wattage to reach Virginia. They had music, family safe humor, the news and weather. That’s what radio should be, even AM radio.

But its come to this, the airwaves filled with mindless blather by people who like to hear themselves talk – and get paid a lot for it. Need ratings? Blather. Need more ratings, insult someone.

On the Imus issue I found Al Roker’s commentary on the issue to be not all that enlightening – what else could he say – but I did find the com-boxes disturbing.

Why?

Because many of them touted out the old lines: “I’m not a racist but…” ; “I love you but…” ; “What he said is wrong, and I’m no racist, but…” ; “I have a lot of black friends, but…”

Everyone needed to couch their language and their commentary just in case someone might think ill of them.

I’d ask everyone there, everyone with a comment, how do you live? What do you do in your day to day in dealings with people? Are you fair, honest, and trustworthy? Do you treat everyone with dignity? Are you so unsure of your own actions and lifestyle as to apologize before you even begin talking?

It’s time to take a step back.

Live a life that exhibits dignity, and treat people with human dignity. That DOES NOT mean you have to agree with their lifestyle choices, or in any way support what they believe in. It simply means that you must accept and preserve their humanity before all people. It means that you see yourself in them, in their eyes, in their souls regardless of color, creed, orientation, or membership in a terrorist organization.

Yep, even the ‘bad guys.’ We torture them, we torture ourselves.

Folks like Mr. Imus never got that. No one has dignity, not his peeps, not even the reflection he sees in the mirror. That’s the sad part. No firing will fix that. Only grace can fix that.

God help us to see the humanity of all our brothers and sisters. Help us to see your reflection in them.

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

My parents named me Robert Weber because…

…they were bigots?

It appears that one of the New Yorker’s cartoonists, Robert Weber, thinks that Polish parents drink a bit too much, thereby resulting in their children having ‘funny’ names like Zbigniew.

You can see the offensive cartoon at Cartoonbank.

I don’t tend to make a big deal out of ethnic humor. To me it says more about the person telling the joke than about the people of the ethnic group being targeted.

Television networks and the media have made lots of money on anti-Polish humor:

  • ABC – Barney Miller, Drew Carey
  • CBS – All in the Family
  • NBC – most recently Office, but add Conan O’Brien and a whole host of NBC shows to that list.

Those are the ones that come most directly to mind. Do they care – no. Are they moved by protest – no. Will it continue – sure.

For my part I will pray for Mr. Weber, and maybe that’s what we should all do. Direct our indignation to prayer. Forgive Mr. Weber for his ignorance and bigotry and pray for a change of heart.

…and for Mr. Weber, here’s a few of those children born to drunken parents:

Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Preisner
Zbigniew Herbert
Zbigniew Religa
Zbigniew Boniek
Zbigniew Oleśnicki
Zbigniew Nienacki
Zbigniew of Poland

PS.: ZBIGNIEW, Gender: Masculine, Usage: Polish, Pronounced: ZBEEG-nyef, Means “to dispel anger” from the Slavic elements zbit “to dispel” and gniew “anger”.

PPS.: David Remnick, Editor of The New Yorker responding to criticism leveled at the cartoon.

Everything Else

For Our Country

George Washington

We thank Thee, Lord, for America, our home. We bless Thee for the liberty, the opportunity, and the abundance we share. But above all we praise Thee for the traditions which have made our country great, and for patriots who have laid the foundations through faith, courage, and self-sacrifice. Teach us in our own day the meaning of citizenship, and help us to be faithful stewards of the responsibility which Thou entrusted to us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Current Events, Media, Perspective

A national day of mourning

Since I found out about Anna Nicole Smith’s death, at the age of 39, I’ve been pondering what our response should be. How should people of faith react to the tragedy that was her life.

If we were to be just honest enough, and just sarcastic enough, we would declare a national day of mourning for Anna.

The old Frank Sinatra myopic Miracle of the Bells spoke of a nation called to mourning for an actress that embodied her humble roots, her faith, and the hope of her people.

We’ve been transported 59 years into the future and our nation should mourn for its symbolic princess.

Like the fictional Olga Treskovna, Vickie Lynn Hogan came from poor rural roots. Whatever her connection was to those roots, unlike Olga she left them in rapid succession, drinking her fill of the majority of the seven deadly sins.

Anna Nicole symbolizes much of what we have become. Gluttonous, lazy, imbibed with sex, drugs, and partying, living an I’m OK, you’re OK, no fault life. A life that left a wake of death behind it.

The press tries to dig in an find the witnesses who protest her sweetness, her simplicity. She was OK, things just happen. She was sad, it was the alcohol, or drugs, or men, or…

We need that national day of mourning, mourning for what we now produce. We once proclaimed our values, basic values, now we proclaim lives like Anna’s. We once produced steel, now we produce Anna and Brittney, and so many others, willing to sell themselves for what the American dream has become.

As people of faith we must pray for Anna. First for the repose of her soul. I offer that prayer.

We must also pray for all those on Anna’s path, on the great bling encrusted American production line. God save them.

And we must repent, for our desires, our pennies spent foolishly, make it all happen.

For more see the Daily Mail’s: Legacy of a gold-digger.

Current Events, Political

When in doubt throw gasoline on the fire

From Al Jazeera: Israeli dig sparks protests

Israeli excavation work near a compound in Jerusalem that houses al-Aqsa mosque has sparked protests by Palestinians and condemnation from the Jordanian king.

King Abdullah says the dig is a “flagrant violation” of a 1994 peace treaty which recognises Jordan’s “historic role” in overseeing maintenance at Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.

Israeli assurances that the dig would not harm Islam’s third holiest site did little to stifle the anger as 11 Palestinians were arrested and crowds threw stones at Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem.

Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister, said Israel was out to cause “direct harm” to al-Aqsa.

He said: “I appeal to all our Palestinian people to be united and to rise up together to protect al-Aqsa and the holy sites on the blessed land of Palestine.”

…

Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, said: “The activities being carried out do not harm … and will not harm any of the holy places.”

She accused Israel’s enemies of exploiting “every opportunity to stir the most radical emotions”…

Uh, yeah, like digging near the mosque wouldn’t do that.

Where exactly do Israelis think they live? I think that they imagine they are in some remote mountaintop country or on the moon, completely separated from their neighbors, by millions of miles. That’s about the only thing that could excuse this type of behavior.

Lord have mercy on us all. Lord, draw all men unto Thee.

Calendar of Saints, PNCC

February 3

The Blessed Virgin, Christ Child, and St. Blaise

St. Blaise of Sebastea, Bishop and Martyr, (316)
St. Laurence of Canterbury, Bishop, (619)
St. Anskar of Hamburg, Bishop, (865)

The Blessing of Throats

Let Us Pray

Almighty and most merciful God, Who hast created all things by the power of Thy Word, and Who, for the salvation of man, hast willed that that same Word, by Whom all things were made should become incarnate; Thou, Who art great and doest wondrous things, awesome and worthy of praise: for the confession of whose faith the glorious Martyr and Bishop Blasius, spurning divers torments, was counted worthy to receive the martyr’s palm: to whom among other gifts Thou didst grant the virtue of healing infirmities of the throat through Thine almighty power; we humbly beseech Thy Majesty that, regarding not our sins, Thou wouldst deign to bless + through his prayers and merits, this creature of wax, sanctifying it and hallowing it through Thy grace: that all who with a lively faith receive its impress upon their throats, may be freed from all aliments of the same, and being restored to health, may show forth in Thy holy Church their thankfulness for Thy benefits, by praising Thy glorious Name, which is worthy of eternal benediction. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Through the intercession of blessed Blasius, may God free thee from all affections of the throat, and from all other aliments. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen

Everything Else, ,

Faithful people

Fr. Jim Tucker points to a YouTube of Laetabundus in Sequence for Candlemas. Laetabundus is a Presentation Sequence normally attributed to St. Bernard. I found the English translation from The Dominican Missal in Latin and English, Revised Edition, Blackfriars Publications, Oxford, 1948.

Faithful people,
Sweeten all your song with gladness.
Alleluia.

Matchless maiden
Bringeth forth the Prince of princes:
O! the marvel.

Virgin compasseth a man,
Yea, the angel of the plan:
Star the Dayspring.

Day that sunset shall not close,
Star that light on all bestows,
Ever cloudless.

As the star, light crystalline,
Mary hath a Son divine
In her likeness.

Star that shining grows not dim,
Nor his Mother, bearing him,
Less a maiden.

The great tree of Lebanon
Hyssop’s lowliness puts on
In our valley;

And the Word of God Most High
Self-imprisoned doth lie
In our body.

So Isaias sang of old,
So the Synagogue doth hold,
But the sunrise finds her cold
Hard and blinded.

Of her own she will not mark,
Let her to the gentiles hark;
For the Sybil’s verses dark
Tell of these things.

Make haste, O luckless one,
Give ear to the saints bygone:
Why perish utterly,
O race undone?

He whom thy seers foretell
Born is in Israel:
Mary’s little Son, O mark him well.
Alleluia.

PNCC, , , ,

Music Scholarship Sunday

God ascends amid shouts of joy,
Yahweh at the sound of the horn.

Praise God, praise him with psalms!
Praise our king, praise him with psalms!

For God is the ruler of all the earth;
praise him to the utmost of your ability.

— Psalm 47:5-7

The PNCC observes Music Scholarship Sunday on the last Sunday in January.

Polish National Catholics are encouraged to support the scholarship program and are asked to encourage youth in their pursuit of music education, to pray for our organists, choir directors, and choir members, and to take part in the ministry of song – raising their voices unto the Lord. We are also asked to pray for all those who have gone before us and who have worked for the glory of God through music ministry.

Persons wishing to apply to the National United Choirs scholarship program may obtain an application from their pastor or choir director or by writing to:

Music Scholarship Committee
National United Choirs
280 Valley View Dr
Westfield, MA 01085.

Applications are available between January 1st and March 20th. Applications must be received no later than April 1st.

There is also a Junior Incentive Award. Applications may only be obtained through your pastor, assistant pastor, administrator, deacon, choir member, director or organist, or Parish Committee member.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, Political

The urge to surge

To President Bush’s Administration and the plan to send upwards of 20,000 more young men and women to Iraq:

  • It won’t work – it’s too late.
  • It’s a useless waste of more young lives.
  • It’s a waste of our national resources and treasure.
  • It does not protect our country.
  • The Democrats will talk it up, but owing to politics will let the Republicans hang for the error. They will do nothing to stop it. They’re co-dependent.
  • Pray.
  • Speak-up, even though your witness may seem like words into the wind, speak-up.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, by whose grace we look for the day when nation shall not any more lift up sword against nation, and when men shall live without fear in security and peace, grant to us in this time of strife the will to labor for peace even while our sword is drawn to resist the foe. Let not the evil we oppose turn us from our purpose, to achieve unity and concord among the nations of the earth, to Thy honor and glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Current Events, Perspective,

Life in all its beauty

Just when you thought that the lowest common denominator had been reached, stories continue to appear pointing out that “stem cells” can be used to make people look youthful and to rebuild their missing teeth…

Of course you have to dig into the stories to realize that they are talking about adult stem cells , the only truly effective stem cell therapies developed thus far (see Adult Stem Cells Spur Rush to Market, Avoid Bush’s Embryo Ban).

The Church has no problem with the use of adult stem cells or cord blood stem cells (if the baby has not been aborted), but there are those who will latch onto “the many uses of stem cells” and will try to make a case regarding embryonic stem cell research – all so they can benefit. They pass over the facts and draw general conclusions that make no sense – i.e., the Church is against people, the Church wants me to suffer, being beautiful and perfect is my right…

The interesting thing about these arguments is that those who take-up arms advocating for the position in opposition to life will be confounded. They argue from impatience and selfishness – and yes, killing a human being so you can benefit is always wrong.

In my opinion, this lack of patience and selfishness is rooted in a lack of faith in God, and I fully believe that those alleged Christians who advocate for abortion, embryonic stem cell research, the death penalty, and euthanasia have no faith in God. They are delusional.

To the point of the title of this post. Patience and the miracle of God’s creation provides a solution. To wit: New Source of Stem Cells (and here).

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — A new source of stem cells could one day mean anyone who needs engineered tissue will have a ready source. The research is still very early, but scientists say they are excited about the potential.

Researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., report stem cells capable of creating several different kinds of tissue can be taken from amniotic fluid in the wombs of pregnant women.

Stem cells have the capacity to become any kind of cell in the body. Under the right conditions, the cells can become long muscle cells, throbbing heart cells, or brain cells producing neurotransmitters.

“It’s still too early to think of these cells for human use. We’re still in the research phase,” Wake Forest researcher Anthony Atala, M.D., told Ivanhoe. “But we’re certainly working in that direction.”

Dr. Atala and his colleagues were able to separate stem cells from amniotic fluid and placentas. Researchers used left over fluid gathered from amniocentesis tests, done to certain genetic disorders in the developing fetus. Cells can also be gathered from the placenta after birth.

The successful isolation of stem cells from this source means there is a more reliable source of cells for research and potential therapies. “We are dealing with a resource that is widely available because there are over 4.5 million births per year in the [United States],” said Dr. Atala. Before now, some stem cells came from discarded embryos created for in vitro fertilization. Many oppose the use of these cells, arguing it encourages destroying unborn children.

Dr. Atala says taking cells from the placenta, or the afterbirth, causes no risk to mother or child…

Lets see – more useful, more reliable, widely available, no danger, no abortion, no death.

All I could think of is this quote:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and try me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to abundance. — Malachi 3:10

Our prayer and trust in God is our tithe. He asks us to try Him by placing our full trust in Him. When we do, He will keep His promise and pour out blessings upon us in abundance.

God has created life in all its richness. When we choose God’s way, which is life, all of our real needs are met, and met in abundance.

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