Oil War

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Oil War
by Ted Rudow III ,MA Friday, 30 December 2011
Iran, at loggerheads with the West over its nuclear program, said on Tuesday it would stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf if sanctions were imposed on its crude exports. Iran has already informed the World that if it does, she's going to block the Strait of Hormuz, which is to bottle up most of the Mideastern oil, which would be a severe blow to the entire World and World economy, almost the worst thing that could happen outside of actual war--to stop the flow of oil, the thing the whole World has been fearing for years now. About 15 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz on a typical day. About a fifth of the world's oil supply goes through the strait. Much of the Persian Gulf relies on the Strait of Hormuz to export its petroleum and reach the ocean, making it one of the world's most important oil supply routes. So, the World's supply of oil has already been cut down considerably and is rapidly being cut down further. The scarcer it is, the higher prices they can get. And also, it's their one weapon they can really use effectively.Actually about a 40% loss of oil since those happy carefree days of the one-dollar-a-barrel oil, which is all they were willing to give the Arabs for this very cheap black sticky dirty substance a mere 40 years or so ago. The shortage becomes so serious, it may even precipitate the Oil War in the West's effort to secure the oil that it needs to survive in its present rich, industrialised condition.

Oil War

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/30/18703638.php
Oil War
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Friday Dec 30th, 2011
Iran, at loggerheads with the West over its nuclear program, said on Tuesday it would stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf if sanctions were imposed on its crude exports.
-->
Iran has already informed the World that if it does, she's going to block the Strait of Hormuz, which is to bottle up most of the Mideastern oil, which would be a severe blow to the entire World and World economy, almost the worst thing that could happen outside of actual war--to stop the flow of oil, the thing the whole World has been fearing for years now. About 15 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz on a typical day. About a fifth of the world's oil supply goes through the strait. Much of the Persian Gulf relies on the Strait of Hormuz to export its petroleum and reach the ocean, making it one of the world's most important oil supply routes. So, the World's supply of oil has already been cut down considerably and is rapidly being cut down further. The scarcer it is, the higher prices they can get. And also, it's their one weapon they can really use effectively. Actually about a 40% loss of oil since those happy carefree days of the one-dollar-a-barrel oil, which is all they were willing to give the Arabs for this very cheap black sticky dirty substance a mere 40 years or so ago. The shortage becomes so serious, it may even precipitate the Oil War in the West's effort to secure the oil that it needs to survive in its present rich, industrialised condition.
Ted Rudow III, MA

Put a Little Love in Your Heart

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December 21, 2011 Columns & Blogs » Letters to the Editor
Rhapsodies & Rants: Dec. 21, 2011
Put a Little Love in Your Heart
Many poor folks in the world haven't yet found the real meaning of Christmas. So many people are lost, lonely, downtrodden, weak and weary. Some are weak in their bodies, weary in their flesh; others are weak in their minds; and yet others are weak in body, mind and spirit. There are the trampled-on, the poor, the persecuted, the hungry; those who are victims of war and crime and exploitation; those who nobody wants and for whom nobody cares; those who have so little in the way of worldly goods, who are lacking in food, clothing and shelter—even the basic necessities.
Then there are others who do have material goods and who appear to have it together in the eyes of the world They're weary and heavy-laden with problems, stress, fears and phobias; those who appear to be rich and increased in goods, but who are found wanting; those who wear a smile on their face, yet ache inside; those who are engulfed in a sea of emptiness. We can spread a little more love and light and cheer!
"Lift up your fellow man, lend him a helping hand. Put a little love in your heart."
—Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto

Invented people

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Peninsula readers' letters: Dec. 21

From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 12/20/2011 05:29:18 PM PST
Updated: 12/20/2011 11:06:24 PM PST






Invented people'

Dear Editor: Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich stood by his assertion that the Palestinians are an "invented people." His use of the term "invented people" when referring to the Palestinian people is derogatory. Gingrich sought to court the pro-Israel vote by claiming the Palestinians do not deserve a state. This is a distortion of history; a historical and cultural misappropriation of a nation's past and future for political gain.

Currently, there are almost 4 million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation within the occupied territories, and an additional 1.5 million living inside Israel itself. I have long supported the right of Israel to exist. I firmly believe Israeli citizens have a fundamental right to be able to live their lives in peace and security, free from the loud bang, the searing heat and explosion of a random car bomb or suicide bomber.

However, Palestinians have this right also, for they are people dispossessed, a people whose only desire is a homeland where they too can live with their families, free from fear of the helicopter gunship and nighttime raids, free from the cloud of phosphorous gas that burns their children's throats and lungs.

Ted Rudow III, MA

Palo Alto

RTF

Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich stood by his assertion that the Palestinians are an "invented people,"


RTF RADIOlive 24/7 var so = new SWFObject('http://www.raisethefist.com/streamplayer/player.swf', 'streambaby', '150', '20', '9');// comment Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich stood by his assertion that the Palestinians are an "invented people," His use of the term invented people when referring to the Palestinian people is equally derogatory. Gingrich sought to court the pro-Israel vote by claiming that not only do the Palestinians not deserve a state. This is a distortion of history; a historical and cultural misappropriation of a nation's past and future for political gain. Currently there are almost four million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation within the occupied territories, and another 1.5 million living inside Israel itself. I have long supported the right of Israel to exist. I firmly believe Israeli citizens have a fundamental right to be able to live their lives in peace and security, free from the loud bang, the searing heat and explosion of a random car bomb or suicide bomber. However, Palestinians have this right also, for they are people dispossessed, a people whose only desire is a homeland where they too can live with their families, free from fear of the helicopter gunship and night-time raids, free from the cloud of phosphorous gas that burns their children's throats and lungs.
Ted Rudow III, MA

Jamaica Observer

Monday, December 19, 2011

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War is such a waste

Monday, December 19, 2011
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Dear Editor,
Over the past nine years, the US invasion and occupation has left a bloody toll on Iraqi civilians and foreign troops. Nearly 4,500 US troops died, and another 32,000 were wounded. An accurate toll of Iraqis killed may never be known. Iraq Body Count says at least 104,000 Iraqi civilians have died, while some studies have put the death toll at over one million.
After 20 years of war and sanctions, Iraq's infrastructure has been devastated. Hundreds of thousands of more Iraqis died due to the crippling sanctions in the years between the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 US invasion. But the UN estimates 3.5 million Iraqis are still displaced from their homes, and again, many widowed, many orphaned, and environmental damage that is yet to be assessed.
Imagine what Iraq could have done with all those billions of dollars which were spent on destroying it. Imagine the food it could have bought, the water treatment plants it could have built, the medicine it could have purchased to help heal its sick and suffering.
One reason US politicians are often so reluctant to turn down a war, even though they may protest otherwise, is that it's good for their constituencies and the big businesses that support them and donate to their campaigns. It's incredible that the governments of the world are on track to invest nearly a trillion dollars a year in killing people. War is such a waste!
Ted Rudow III, MA

Encina Ave

Palo Alto, California
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/War-is-such-a-waste_10417713#ixzz1h0giz8k2

Political gain

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/18/18702991.php
Political gain
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Sunday Dec 18th, 2011 10:48 AM
Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich stood by his assertion that the Palestinians are an "invented people," His use of the term “invented people” when referring to the Palestinian people is equally derogatory. Gingrich sought to court the pro-Israel vote by claiming that not only do the Palestinians not deserve a state.
-->
This is a distortion of history; a historical and cultural misappropriation of a nation’s past and future for political gain. Currently there are almost four million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation within the occupied territories, and another 1.5 million living inside Israel itself. I have long supported the right of Israel to exist. I firmly believe Israeli citizens have a fundamental right to be able to live their lives in peace and security, free from the loud bang, the searing heat and explosion of a random car bomb or suicide bomber. However, Palestinians have this right also, for they are people dispossessed, a people whose only desire is a homeland where they too can live with their families, free from fear of the helicopter gunship and night-time raids, free from the cloud of phosphorous gas that burns their children’s throats and lungs. Ted Rudow III, MA

War is waste

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/16/18702869.php
War is waste
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77aol.com ) Friday Dec 16th, 2011
Over the past nine years, the U.S. invasion and occupation has left a bloody toll on Iraqi civilians and foreign troops. Nearly 4,500 U.S. troops died, and another 32,000 were wounded. An accurate toll of Iraqis killed may never be known.
-->
Iraq Body Count says at least 104,000 Iraqi civilians have died, while some studies put have put the death toll at over one million. After 20 years of war and sanctions, Iraq’s infrastructure has been devastated. Hundreds of thousands of more Iraqis died due to the crippling sanctions in the years between the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 U.S. invasion. But the U.N. estimates 3.5 million Iraqis are still displaced from their homes, and again, many widowed, many orphaned, and an environmental damage that has yet to be assessed.
Imagine what Iraq could have done with all those billions of dollars which were spent on destroying it. Imagine the food it could have bought, the water treatment plants it could have built, the medicine it could have purchased to help heal its sick and suffering. That's one reason U.S. politicians are often so reluctant to turn down a war, even though they may protest otherwise. It's good for their constituencies and the big businesses that support them and donate to their campaigns. It's incredible that the governments of the world are on track to invest nearly a trillion dollars a year in killing people. War is such a waste!
Ted Rudow III, MA

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Published Dec 13 2011 by San Jose Mercury News

Peninsula readers' letters: Dec. 13

Can the downtown plan
Dear Editor: It is endless. On top of the nearly $ 900,000 the city has already paid consultants working on the Menlo Park El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan, the planning department is now asking for an additional $225,000 for the same...
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Can the downtown plan [Published Dec 13 2011 by Palo Alto Daily News]


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...As I said, "At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief but blessed moment of 'peace on Earth, good will toward men.' " As one reader stated... Peninsula readers' letters: Dec. 13 [San Jose Mercury News - Dec 13 2011]

War on drugs?

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/14/18702787.php
War on drugs?
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Wednesday Dec 14th, 2011 Manuel Noriega is back in his Panamanian homeland after nearly 22 years, sitting in a prison cell in a country he ruled as a personal fiefdom until U.S. troops invaded and hauled him off to a Florida jail. Noriega, who served 17 years in U.S. prison for drug trafficking and nearly two years in France for a money-laundering conviction, now has begun serving three 20-year sentences in Panama for the killings of political opponents in the 1980s.
-->
How could the U.S. have been willing to invade a tiny little country like Panama with tens of thousands of soldiers just because of one man that they abhor, and kill thousands of innocent Panamanians in the process? They have a huge big drug business, and the Panamanian banks were profiting tremendously from money laundering. So decided they wanted Panama and its drug trade and its money laundering banking business. So who is running the U.S. drug trade?--The U.S., of course! While they're spending billions on the so-called "war on drugs," The U.S. is supposed to be fighting drugs and carrying on a war against drugs, when in actuality it's probably running the biggest drug trade in the World and getting billions of profit from it. Ted Rudow III, MA

Defending human rights

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Peninsula readers' letters: Dec. 13
From Daily News Group readers Posted: 12/12/2011 03:45:02 PM PSTUpdated: 12/12/2011 11:57:47 PM PST

Defending human rights
Dear Editor: As I said, "At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief but blessed moment of 'peace on Earth, good will toward men.'" As one reader stated (Letters, Dec. 10), "Ted Rudow III's Dec. 8 letter relies on the unreliable Palestinian Center for Human Rights for statistics on civilian deaths in Gaza and then reminds us that Christmas is near and that good will is needed from all sides."
Raji Sourani, founder of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza City in 1995, began his human rights career challenging Israeli prison conditions and defending Palestinians facing deportation in Israeli military courts. As a human rights defender, he was detained by Israeli authorities on multiple occasions, prompting Amnesty International to name him one of their "prisoners of conscience" in both 1985 and 1988.
Today, Sourani is one of the foremost human rights lawyers and advocates in the Middle East. With the creation of the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s, Sourani's work took on another dimension, exposing and documenting human rights violations on the part of both Israeli and Palestinian officials. While this even-handedness was not always popular, it demonstrates Sourani's commitment to a universal standard.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto

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There Will Be Snacks: It could be a whole lot worse.

by Matthew Gerring Nov 28, 2011 5:12 pm


Matthew Gerring


So it looks like most of us survived Black Friday. The dust has settled, blood has been mopped from the aisles and credit card numbers have sailed on insecure connections over the treacherous waters of the Internet on yesterday’s “Cyber Monday”, and we are now firmly in what we call the “Holiday Season” these days.

Speaking of traditions of dubious merit, the War on Christmas is back, along with the weird phenomenon of NORAD running a “Santa Tracker” on its website, both adding dashes of creepy militarism to an otherwise joyous holiday.

According to a blog post on the Fox Nation blog, not only is the War On Christmas still happening, “we” are winning! Questions of who constitutes “we” and what, exactly, “we” won are left as an exercise for the reader.

I haven’t picked a side in this war, but I find it fascinating. For the moment, let’s put aside the fact that there are several gift-giving holidays from multiple faith traditions that take place between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Let’s also just forget that whether Jesus’ actual birthday was on Dec. 25 is a matter of some dispute. Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that Christmas is the only holiday to celebrate in December, and that retailers are unfairly “secularizing” it.

So much “War on Christmas” rhetoric focuses on what retail workers say to customers — that is, whether it’s “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” — but what would happen if the machinery of commerce fully embraced the religious origins of Christmas? What other consequences would come with that?

Imagine the advertising bonanza it would create! The Bible is rich with stories and metaphors, ready to be exploited in the service of commerce — the possibilities are endless.

“A sale fit for the King of Kings! Free two-day Super Savior shipping!” the ads would say, or better yet, “Shop at Walmart, your price savior!”

I see nativity scene mannequins sporting cable-knit sweaters, performance fleece and cute graphic onesies. In the aisles, sales associates would flit about, spraying people with Frankincense, by Paris Hilton.

And think of the TV commercials!

Joseph and the Virgin Mary are frantically searching Bethlehem for a place to sleep, and everyone is turning them down. Sheep and goats are wandering around the streets for effect. They finally find their room in the manger, but Mary is obviously displeased.

She gives Joseph one of those emasculating stares that women are only capable of in advertising — one that says “Can’t you provide for me? What is wrong with you?” — so Joseph reaches into his cloak and pulls out his smartphone, miraculously finding a four-star hotel just a few blocks away.

Samsung smartphones, it would say, with Google, where the “Os” are halos, or perhaps crowns of thorns, two for one for this Christmas season.

The Three Wise Men are huddling around a fire in the desert, and they see a brilliant light glowing in the distance. They journey toward it for many days and finally arrive at an idyllic shack in the snow. Inside is a Sony flat-screen plasma TV with the baby Jesus sitting in front of it, watching Baby Einstein (or maybe Baby Solomon?) videos, only $8.99 on clearance because they were proven to be totally useless.

And then later, on an infomercial in the wee hours of the morning: Joseph and Mary, hard up for cash, look at Jesus — adorned with the Wise Men’s gifts — and suddenly an angel with the likeness of Ron Paul appears, shouting, “Sell Your Gold!”

Instead of bleak news reports warning Americans of the collapse of the economy if they don’t shop to keep retailers in the black, anchors might deliver news of a message from Creflo Dollar of Creflo Dollar Ministries, preacher of the Prosperity Gospel, warning people to shop and spend lavishly or else face eternal damnation.

Would people still die every year in the pandemonium created by “doorbuster” sales? Would people still take the opportunity to gift themselves first? Would anything else really change other than the decoration retailers put on this bizarre and terrifying ritual?

I invite those of you who take offense at being told “Happy Holidays” to consider — do you really want to put the face of Jesus on this mess?

As long as retailers still prefer “Happy Holidays” to “Merry Christmas,” the religious traditions of Christmas get to remain totally — and appropriately — separate from this country’s annual retail orgy. For the sake of Christianity and good taste, let’s please keep it that way.


One thought on “There Will Be Snacks: It could be a whole lot worse.”


Ted Rudow III, MA on December 12, 2011
Back in A. D. 274 an emperor of the old Roman world chose December 25 as “the birthday of the unconquered sun.” He recognised that at this midwinter date it reaches its lowest point in the Southern sky and begins its gradual movement Northward again. The annual rebirth of nature was closely linked to the Roman new year and planting season. Houses were decorated with greenery and candles, and presents were given to children and the poor. In time, Christians made this a holy day of their own. By A.D. 336, the church had decided that all believers should celebrate the birthday of the Lord Jesus, the Son of righteousness on December 25.
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
-Charles Dickens
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996

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As I said, "At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief but blessed moment of "peace on Earth, good will toward men.





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by indybay.org Sun Dec 11 09:50:33 PST 2011
As I said, "At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief but blessed moment of "peace on Earth, good will toward men." As one reader stated, "Ted Rudow's III's Dec. 8 letter relies on the unreliable Palestinian Center for Human Rights for statistics on civilian deaths in Gaza and then remindsus that Christmas is near and that good will is needed from all sides."

The founder of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza City in 1995, Sourani began his human rights career challenging Israeli prison conditions and defending Palestinians facing deportation in Israeli military courts. As a human rights defender, he was detained by Israeli authorities on multiple occasions, prompting Amnesty International to name him one of their Prisoners of Conscience in both 1985 and 1988.
Today, Raji Sourani, one of the foremost human rights lawyers and advocates in the Middle East. With the creation of the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s, Sourani's work took on another dimension, exposing and documenting human rights violations on the part of both Israeli and Palestinian officials. While this even-handedness was not always popular, it demonstrates Sourani's commitment to a universal standard.
Ted Rudow III, MA

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/11/18702446.php
As I said, "At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief
Peace
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Sunday Dec 11th, 2011 but blessed moment of "peace on Earth, good will toward men." As one reader stated, "Ted Rudow's III's Dec. 8 letter relies on the unreliable Palestinian Center for Human Rights for statistics on civilian deaths in Gaza and then reminds us that Christmas is near and that good will is needed from all sides."
-->
The founder of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza City in 1995, Sourani began his human rights career challenging Israeli prison conditions and defending Palestinians facing deportation in Israeli military courts. As a human rights defender, he was detained by Israeli authorities on multiple occasions, prompting Amnesty International to name him one of their Prisoners of Conscience in both 1985 and 1988. Today, Raji Sourani, one of the foremost human rights lawyers and advocates in the Middle East. With the creation of the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s, Sourani’s work took on another dimension, exposing and documenting human rights violations on the part of both Israeli and Palestinian officials. While this even-handedness was not always popular, it demonstrates Sourani’s commitment to a universal standard.
Ted Rudow III, MA

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The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm on Thursday distanced itself from a more conservative Islamist party as early vote tallies indicated that the two factions would claim the two largest roles in the first Parliament elected since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The Society of the Muslim Brothers often simply "The Brotherhood" or "MB") is the world's oldest class and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an estimated two million members. Its ideas had gained its supporters throughout the Arab world and influenced other Islamist groups with its "model of political activism combined with Islamic charity work" The Brotherhood's stated goal is to instill the Qur'an and Sunnah as the "sole reference point for ...ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community ... and state". Since its inception in 1928 the movement has officially opposed violent means to achieve its goals. The MB's non-violent stance has resulted in breakaway groups from the movement, and been criticized by al-Qaeda for its support for democratic elections rather than armed jihad. The Brotherhood's nonviolent stance has resulted in breakaway groups from the movement, including the Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya and Al Takfir Wal Hijra. Osama bin Laden similarly criticized the Brotherhood, and accused it of betraying jihad.
Ted Rudow III, MA

Peace on earth

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Peninsula readers' letters: Dec. 8
From Daily News Group readers Posted: 12/07/2011 05:26:30 PM PSTUpdated: 12/07/2011 11:22:24 PM PST


Peace on Earth
Dear Editor: The Palestinian Center for Human Rights says 825 people have been killed by drones in Gaza since the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was released in October. Most of those killed, according to the organization, have been civilians mistakenly targeted or caught in the deadly shrapnel shower of a drone strike. By comparison, the New America Foundation says U.S. drones have killed at least 1,807 militants and civilians in Pakistan since 2006. And also since 2006, Palestinian rocket fire has killed 16 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians.
People of many religions and people of no religion associate this season with that which is dearest to the human spirit -- love, loved ones and the giving of oneself. At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief but blessed moment of "peace on Earth, good will toward men."
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto

PP&J

Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
www.PeaceandJustice.org
Tonight! ... Be a part of the studio audience!
Other Voices TVShopping With a Conscience: Finding Socially Responsible GiftsTuesday, December 6, 7:00 PMCommunity Media Center900 San Antonio Road, Palo AltoFREE and open to all. Wheelchair accessible.
Craig Wiesner and Derrick KikuchiFounders, Reach and Teach
The holiday shopping season is upon us and U.S. consumerism is in full swing. How can we be sure our purchases are socially responsible? What makes for good gifts for the activists on your list -- old, young or in between? How can we be sure an item really is "fair trade" or "green"?Shopping With A Conscience
Our guests are the founders of Reach and Teach, the peace and social justice learning company. Reach and Teach specializes in "teachable moments" -- gifts that offer learning as well as amusement, that spur a social conscience rather than just more consumerism.
In addition to exploring the ins and outs of shopping for a better world, we'll also have a product demonstration of some of Reach and Teach's neatest and coolest items! I phoned up and mention that the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center needed your support!
Other Voices TV can be seen live at 7:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month on mid-Peninsula cable channel 27. The program is also streamed live on the internet (select channel 27).
On demand video streaming is available on our website beginning two days after the initial broadcast.
The current program is rebroadcast throughout the month on cable channel 27 (an internet webcast can also be seen at these times):Tuesdays 7:00 PMWednesdays 2:00 AM & 10:00 AMThursdays 11:00 PMFridays 6:00 AM & 2:00 PMSaturdays 4:00 PM http://www.peaceandjustice.org/programs/Other_Voices_TV/
Holiday Peace & Social Justice Crafts & Info FairSunday, December 1111:00 AM - 2:30PMFellowship Hall, First Presbyterian Church1140 Cowper Street, Palo AltoFREE and open to all. Wheelchair accessible.
Celebrate the great work being done by organizations in our community and around the world!
Toys ~ Fair Trade Crafts ~ Books ~ Art ~ Music ~ DVDs ~ Games ~ Puzzles ~ Jewelry ~ Decorations
* Help promote fair trade while doing your holiday shopping!* Learn about great social justice & peacemaking organizations!* Reduce your carbon footprint this holiday season* Enjoy free holiday snacks & beverages
Have fun!
Sponsored byPeninsula Peace and Justice Center & First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
http://www.peaceandjustice.org/programs/Holiday_Fair_2011

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A little bit of insight: Don’t lie to me

by Nate Morotti Dec 6, 2011


Nate Morotti


I would like to start this article by saying that I am not an alarmist.

I don’t see the apocalypse around every corner, nor do I have a secret bunker stockpiled with food and weapons or believe in government conspiracies, but that does not mean I believe that everything is fine in our world.

We are in the middle of a gigantic economic downturn and we, as a nation, are still trying to recover from the gaping wound that the housing crisis left in both our bank accounts and our morale as a country.

And to top it all off we are now facing a huge attack on our civil rights with the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act.

So why is this a big deal?

Should the act, which has already been passed by the Senate with a vote of 93 to 7, pass into law (which is assuming it will not be vetoed by the president) it will effectively remove several of the powers that the Bill of Rights grants to U.S. citizens, including the right to due process and a fair trial.

The act is a list of martial powers granted to the military branch of the U.S. government every year, and dictates their restrictions and abilities.--------


Perhaps we could use a good, old fashioned police state to regain control over all these lazy occupiers and promoters of the liberal agenda, because those are the real enemies of the state, right?

I really do hope all this political satire doesn’t fall on deaf ears, because with the way things are going, it may be the last time we have the freedom to satire politics.

As I stated before, I am not an alarmist by any means, but a practical man would start setting up his affairs for when the s*** hits the fan


One thought on “A little bit of insight: Don’t lie to me”


Ted Rudow III, MA on December 7, 2011
Big Brother is on his way, not just in the U.S. but all over the world. There just happens to be more hoopla and uproar in the U.S. about privacy issues. The power that be knows that if he can enact some of these surveillance and eavesdropping measures in the U.S. and put them into practice there, it’ll be much easier to do so in other countries which are also resisting these things. This entire glorification of war-as if the whole and only purpose of the government and the country were to fight wars-smells of fascism. The news media glorify the war and militarism; we get the same dose on television, in the movies and in video games. If the American people aren’t careful, they will wake up one day to find out they’ve become a nation of mindless heel-clickers.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996

Peace on earth

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/06/18701894.php
Peace on earth
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Tuesday Dec 6th, 2011 2:18 PM
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights says 825 people have been killed by drones in Gaza since the capture of Gilad Shalit, who was released in October. Most of those killed, according to the organization, have been civilians mistakenly targeted or caught in the deadly shrapnel shower of a drone strike.
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By comparison, the New America Foundation says U.S. drones have killed at least 1,807 militants and civilians in Pakistan since 2006. Since 2006, Palestinian rocket fire has killed 16 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. People of many religions and people of no religion associate this season with that which is dearest to the human spirit -- love, loved ones and the giving of oneself. At Christmas time, let the guns of war fall silent and even enemies share a brief but blessed moment of "peace on Earth, good will toward men."
Ted Rudow III, MA

Spartan Daily

Spartan Daily
December 4, 2011 News Sports Opinion A&E Multimedia Wes Side Stories: God doesn’t play sportsby Wesley Dugle Dec 4, 2011 6:24 pm Tags: Basketball, football, God, NBA, NFL, Ray Lewis, Religion, Sports, tim tebow, Wes Side Stories Wesley Dugle,
Spartan Daily"Wes Side Stories" is a weekly column that appears on Mondays.
A while back, on Sunday night of week nine of the NFL season, a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens took place in one of the most heated rivalry games of the modern era.The game saw true grit on both sides as both teams traded leads back and fourth and fought to the bitter end, and was capped off with a thrilling 26-yard touchdown pass by Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to wide receiver Torrey Smith to put the Ravens on top 23-20 with eight seconds to go, thus sealing the game.In the post-game interviews, Flacco answered an NBC reporter’s questions with the typical answers you usually hear from a pro athlete regarding the team’s chemistry and “taking one game at a time.”Then, Ray Lewis steps in for his own post-game chat, talking about his advice to Smith and what he said to keep his head in the game.“You know, position yourself, so when God gets ready to pour out his blessings, that you are in position to receive those blessings.”Lewis basically just said here that Torrey Smith literally “received” God’s blessings in the form of a touchdown pass.At this point I groaned and rolled my eyes and said, “Well if God’s your quarterback how can you not win?”This is probably one of the best examples of one of my biggest pet peeves in pro-sports ­— athletes claiming that God helped them win a sports game.Now before you start thinking this is going to be an attack on religion — it isn’t. I’m agnostic, but I have no problem with pro-athletes being Christians, Muslims, Jews, or whatever.But when one of them claims God is helping them win a few petty, insignificant sports games that are pointless in the grand scheme of things — that’s when I get upset.I would like to think, if there is a God, that he’s working a little harder on ending world hunger, violence and racism than some stupid football game.Ray Lewis isn’t the only one though who considers himself religious in the NFL.With the recent emergence of Denver Bronco’s quarterback Tim Tebow, God and football has taken the spotlight as Tebow is easily the most religious player in the league and also wears his religious pride on his chest, praising the Lord for each of his wins.Quarterback Jon Kitna too, back in his “prime,” sometimes would say that God was even “testing” him in his defeats.Huh?This guy makes millions of dollars to throw a football around, while people less fortunate pay tons of money just to see it, and he means to tell me God is testing him?Sorry, Kitna, but you are not Job.Buffalo Bills wide-receiver Steve Johnson probably had the biggest religious flub of them all.In a 2010 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after dropping a game-winning touchdown pass in the closing seconds of regulation, an angry Johnson took to his twitter stating “I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…”Now praising God for your small victories is one thing, but calling him out over a loss is just really petty and shows a lack of maturity on Johnson’s part.I highly doubt God was trying to spite you, Steve.God in sports is not limited to just football, however.I remember before game six of the the 2006 NBA Finals, Dallas Mavericks’ shooting guard Jason Terry said his team would pull even down three games to two to the Heat because “God is on our side tonight.” Then came the irony when the Heat clinched the NBA title and Finals MVP Dwyane Wade stated in his post-game interview “God was watching over us tonight.”Hmmm, all this talk would imply God takes a side in these matchups.Does Wade mean to tell me God has a Miami Heat Jersey hanging up in his room in the clouds somewhere? Or would Terry profess otherwise now that the Mavericks took the most recent NBA title?It’s not the fact these people are religious that bothers me, it’s that they seem to believe God takes time out of his busy schedule to help them win a meaningless sports game when there are far more important things that I would think a being of higher power would care more about.Does God take prayers from these guys and go “Sure I will help you win the Super Bowl, I’ll get back to helping starving African children tomorrow I guess?”It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me I guess.I don’t think there is anything wrong in counting your blessings and giving thanks for having the talent to throw a ball really well.But when you start heaping praise and believing that somehow a higher power is helping you win a game, as opposed to the other team who probably has another athlete praying for the same things, it’s just absurd.God doesn’t take sides in my view, and I believe if he’s trying to help anybody out there these days it’s people who are struggling to make ends meet or who are actually in bad situations in their lives.So please, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Tebow and the rest of you professional athletes out there, stop bothering God about winning your games.He’s a busy guy and on his list of priorities I would like to think helping you win the Super Bowl falls pretty far down, just above “Hey God can you help me sleep with that one hot girl in my class please?”But that’s a different story. My biggest pet peeves in sports are athletes who claim God had a hand in winning their sports games. My biggest pet peeves in sports are athletes who claim God had a hand in winning their sports games. My biggest pet peeves in sports are athletes who claim God had a hand in winning their sports games. My biggest pet peeves in sports are athletes who claim God had a hand in winning their sports games...One thought on “Wes Side Stories: God doesn’t play sports”
Ted Rudow III, MA on December 5, 2011
Sports really foster the spirit of competition. It’s the spirit of the world the “me first” spirit–do what’s best for yourself, win no matter who you have to hurt or step on in order to get ahead of the next guy. That’s the spirit of the world, which is just the opposite of what Jesus wants to teach people–to love your neighbor as yourself. Of course, some form of sports is fine. It’s good exercise and can be good fun. But things in the world are so different, and when athletes get to the professional level where they’re being paid to win, it gets extremely competitive. It becomes almost a life-and-death spirit. For example, the soccer players in the World Cup practically ran themselves to exhaustion, suffered injuries and bruises, and still kept playing, because they wanted to win no matter what it cost them physically.It’s a spiritual thing. It’s the spirit of competition and pride, proving you’re better than the other guy. They do it by sheer brawn, by their own strength, which really feeds their pride. It’s their idea of success. Winning means success in the world, so to win is a very big motivator. It just seems to be sort of an instinct with men especially to want to compete and to win. When they watch the World Cup or other sports events, it’s almost like an extension of those human desires to compete and win. That’s why some people get so into it, because they can relate to that drive to compete. The physical exertion, and then finally the goal, is exhilarating for some people. But the world just loves it! See how this competitive sports thing has been the final stages of every great civilization and empire.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996

Brotherhood

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/03/18701638.php
Brotherhood
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Saturday Dec 3rd, 2011
The Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm on Thursday distanced itself from a more conservative Islamist party as early vote tallies indicated that the two factions would claim the two largest roles in the first Parliament elected since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
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The Society of the Muslim Brothers often simply "The Brotherhood" or "MB") is the world's oldest class and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an estimated two million members. Its ideas had gained its supporters throughout the Arab world and influenced other Islamist groups with its "model of political activism combined with Islamic charity work" The Brotherhood's stated goal is to instill the Qur'an and Sunnah as the "sole reference point for ...ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community ... and state". Since its inception in 1928 the movement has officially opposed violent means to achieve its goals. The MB's non-violent stance has resulted in breakaway groups from the movement, and been criticized by al-Qaeda for its support for democratic elections rather than armed jihad. The Brotherhood's nonviolent stance has resulted in breakaway groups from the movement, including the Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya and Al Takfir Wal Hijra. Osama bin Laden similarly criticized the Brotherhood, and accused it of betraying jihad.
Ted Rudow III, MA

Manufacturing wars

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The Daily Star
Your Right To KnowFriday, December 2, 2011
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Editorial Metropolitan National International Op-Ed Letters Friday, December 2, 2011Letters
Manufacturing wars

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Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA
President is authorised to use military force against those who perpetrated the 9/11 attack and those countries that harboured those individuals. Well, more than a decade later, there was an article in The Washington Post where the US officials were anonymously saying that al Qaeda, the group that perpetrated the 9/11 attack, according to the government, was now dead.
There's only two leaders left, they say, in that entire region. It already rendered them "effectively inoperable". There is no more al Qaeda left in Afghanistan or Pakistan according to the US government. The group that perpetrated 9/11, according to it, is no longer even existing. And yet, we are engaged in mobilizing the military in a big way, constantly escalating war situation in many parts of the world.
There are six different countries in which the US is actively using drones: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, against groups that didn't even exist at the time of 9/11. What we are doing is not only going way beyond what we were supposed to be doing when the Congress authorised military force, but what we are really doing is we are constantly manufacturing the causes of our war.
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False reasons

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Peninsula readers' letters: Dec. 1
From Daily News Group readers Posted: 11/30/2011 06:44:38 PM PSTUpdated: 11/30/2011 11:31:24 PM PST
False reasons for war
Dear Editor: The president is authorized to use military force against those who perpetrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attack and countries that harbored those individuals. Well, here we are more than a decade later and there was an article in The Washington Post a week ago about U.S. officials anonymously saying that al-Qaida is now essentially dead.
There's only two leaders left in that entire region, they say. There is no more al-Qaida left in Afghanistan or Pakistan, according to the U.S. government. And yet, here we are engaged in extraordinarily broad military efforts, constantly escalating in numerous parts of the world.
There are six countries in which the U.S. is actively using drones -- Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Yemen -- against groups that didn't even exist when 9/11 was perpetrated. Not only are we essentially going way beyond what we were supposed to be doing when Congress authorized military force, but we're also constantly manufacturing the causes of our war.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto