....not.
3 Iraqi children to be operated on in Israel
Cardiac patients to be brought to Jewish state as part of humanitarian project. Some 1,600 children from 25 different countries undergo surgery in Israel so far. 'It's a special experience; the parents arrive in a country they consider an enemy state,' says director of association which initiated project.
Three Iraqi children suffering from heart defects are expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday through the Allenby Bridge border crossing in order to be operated on by cardiologists from the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
The operations will be carried out as part of the humanitarian project 'Save a Child's Heart.' Since the association was founded 12 years ago, more than 1,600 children from 25 different countries, including the Palestinian Authority, have undergone surgery in Israel.
The association's director, Simon Fischer, said that "after Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed, we started operating on children from Iraq. Before that it was just not possible.
"At the end of December we were in Jordan with our doctors and build a cardiac clinic there, in which 29 children from Iraq were tested. Twenty of them were found suitable for operation. We plan to travel to Jordan once again this year in order for other children from the country to undergo similar tests."
Click on the title for the entire article.
I wonder what humanitarian programs Arab countries have for other countries, perhaps for Israel? Oh wait, they've vowed to drive Israel into the sea, that's right! Yeah, that's why we support Arab countries over evil Israel....
---Katie
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
I guess I'm in trouble. Please don't call DCF on me.
From the Home School Legal Defense Association:
Listening Only to Christian Music Considered Child Abuse?
At the end of January, in Port Huron, Michigan, the Millings family* were minding their own business, homeschooling their children. Suddenly a social worker knocked at the door demanding entry. When the mother refused to let her in, and handed her a piece of paper describing her rights, the social worker crumpled up the paper and said, “I’m not dealing with it.” Then she stated that if she couldn’t come in to examine the children she would get the police. She yelled over the mom’s objections that she wanted to “come in now” and do a strip search of one of the children.
The allegations by the anonymous tipster were absurd. The family was accused of “only allowing their two boys to listen to Christian music.” The tipster said that the children “ate their cheerios dry” and received nearly all their “socialization through their church.” The tipster asserted the children were not in school. Furthermore, the anonymous tipster said the “fourteen- and ten-year-old were seen outside playing without adult supervision” and the mother “pinched and hit her kids in church to keep them quiet.” The last allegation was the reason why the social worker wanted to strip search one of the children.
Chris Klicka of Home School Legal Defense Association immediately sent a letter to the social worker indicating the rudeness and unprofessionalism of her visit. He also indicated that she obviously didn’t receive her social worker training in the Fourth Amendment. HSLDA, a year and a half earlier, drafted and helped persuade legislators to pass a law requiring all social workers in Michigan to receive training in their “duty to protect both statutory and constitutional rights of those being investigated.”
The Millings were able to get a statement from a local doctor indicating that the children were not abused, and letters from various individuals who vouched for them being good parents.
Unfortunately, the anonymous tipster struck again and made another call. When the social worker renewed her efforts to personally interview and strip search the children, she indicated to Klicka that if she was not allowed to get into the home to do this, she would seek a court order.
Klicka responded with, “You can’t get a court order, because there is no probable cause.” He explained that an anonymous tip does not rise to the level of probable cause and that a court order could not be issued because there was not credible evidence. The social worker closed by saying she would seek a court order by Friday.
By Monday, the social worker contacted the family and said that they were going to be dropping the investigation.
We praise God for this victory, and the courage of the Millings family.
* Not their real name.
-----
HSLDA works to protect the rights of homeschooling families. This article is from their website.
What struck me was that these people were reported for things I have done in raising my children:
I did not allow them to choose just any radio station when they were younger; I pretty much insisted on Christian music or conservative talk radio. (Gotta indoctrinate them properly, you know, if I didn't do it someone else would.) I still do not allow offensive popular music in the house or car.
My two older kids ate their cereal dry. My daughter had milk allergies and my son just did not like milk....a result of our pediatrition strongly discouraging cow's milk for children.
I let my ten year old and older kids play outside without my immediate supervision. They did not run all over the neighborhood at ten (unlike my neighbor's six year old foster child!!), but they could play in our yard and with the neighbor children without my hovering over them.
Well, I did not pinch or hit my kids to make them behave in church....but their dad did take them out and swat their bottoms if they decided to act like little cretins.
Oh, and my kids (and my husband and I) got (get) most of our socialization through the church and our Christian homeschool group.
I'm glad that the Michigan social service agency came to the conclusion that this family was not abusive. Too bad the HSLDA had to get involved before they did. Folks, if we don't work to protect our rights we aren't going to have any.
---Katie
Listening Only to Christian Music Considered Child Abuse?
At the end of January, in Port Huron, Michigan, the Millings family* were minding their own business, homeschooling their children. Suddenly a social worker knocked at the door demanding entry. When the mother refused to let her in, and handed her a piece of paper describing her rights, the social worker crumpled up the paper and said, “I’m not dealing with it.” Then she stated that if she couldn’t come in to examine the children she would get the police. She yelled over the mom’s objections that she wanted to “come in now” and do a strip search of one of the children.
The allegations by the anonymous tipster were absurd. The family was accused of “only allowing their two boys to listen to Christian music.” The tipster said that the children “ate their cheerios dry” and received nearly all their “socialization through their church.” The tipster asserted the children were not in school. Furthermore, the anonymous tipster said the “fourteen- and ten-year-old were seen outside playing without adult supervision” and the mother “pinched and hit her kids in church to keep them quiet.” The last allegation was the reason why the social worker wanted to strip search one of the children.
Chris Klicka of Home School Legal Defense Association immediately sent a letter to the social worker indicating the rudeness and unprofessionalism of her visit. He also indicated that she obviously didn’t receive her social worker training in the Fourth Amendment. HSLDA, a year and a half earlier, drafted and helped persuade legislators to pass a law requiring all social workers in Michigan to receive training in their “duty to protect both statutory and constitutional rights of those being investigated.”
The Millings were able to get a statement from a local doctor indicating that the children were not abused, and letters from various individuals who vouched for them being good parents.
Unfortunately, the anonymous tipster struck again and made another call. When the social worker renewed her efforts to personally interview and strip search the children, she indicated to Klicka that if she was not allowed to get into the home to do this, she would seek a court order.
Klicka responded with, “You can’t get a court order, because there is no probable cause.” He explained that an anonymous tip does not rise to the level of probable cause and that a court order could not be issued because there was not credible evidence. The social worker closed by saying she would seek a court order by Friday.
By Monday, the social worker contacted the family and said that they were going to be dropping the investigation.
We praise God for this victory, and the courage of the Millings family.
* Not their real name.
-----
HSLDA works to protect the rights of homeschooling families. This article is from their website.
What struck me was that these people were reported for things I have done in raising my children:
I did not allow them to choose just any radio station when they were younger; I pretty much insisted on Christian music or conservative talk radio. (Gotta indoctrinate them properly, you know, if I didn't do it someone else would.) I still do not allow offensive popular music in the house or car.
My two older kids ate their cereal dry. My daughter had milk allergies and my son just did not like milk....a result of our pediatrition strongly discouraging cow's milk for children.
I let my ten year old and older kids play outside without my immediate supervision. They did not run all over the neighborhood at ten (unlike my neighbor's six year old foster child!!), but they could play in our yard and with the neighbor children without my hovering over them.
Well, I did not pinch or hit my kids to make them behave in church....but their dad did take them out and swat their bottoms if they decided to act like little cretins.
Oh, and my kids (and my husband and I) got (get) most of our socialization through the church and our Christian homeschool group.
I'm glad that the Michigan social service agency came to the conclusion that this family was not abusive. Too bad the HSLDA had to get involved before they did. Folks, if we don't work to protect our rights we aren't going to have any.
---Katie
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Ric Keller has infuriated his base.
He is now a "White Flag Republican."
I hope we find someone decent to run against him. I voted for his primary opponent last fall, to no avail. I have trouble with people who call themselves Republicans and stand up for family values and then once they are elected divorce their wives and marry their staffers. yick. Now this. Do these people stand for anything other than getting re-elected?
Click on the title.
---Katie
I hope we find someone decent to run against him. I voted for his primary opponent last fall, to no avail. I have trouble with people who call themselves Republicans and stand up for family values and then once they are elected divorce their wives and marry their staffers. yick. Now this. Do these people stand for anything other than getting re-elected?
Click on the title.
---Katie
They're not afraid to say it....
The MSM might not tell you this, but Little Green Footballs will...the Salt Lake City shooter was a Bosnian Muslim.
Why won't the MSM say it? Because in their world view, racism of any sort is much worse than terrorism.
Click on the title.
---Katie
Why won't the MSM say it? Because in their world view, racism of any sort is much worse than terrorism.
Click on the title.
---Katie
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
On Tolerance, Or the Folly of Tolerating Error
"But the practical result of this principle is one on which there is no need of speculating; it works in one unvarying way. When error is admitted into the Church, it will be found that the stages of its progress are always three. It begins by asking toleration. Its friends say to the majority: You need not be afraid of us; we are few and weak; only let us alone; we shall not disturb the faith of others. The Church has her standards of doctrine; of course we shall never interfere with them; we only ask for ourselves to be spared interference with our private opinions.
Indulged in this for a time, error goes on to assert equal rights. Truth and error are two balancing forces. The Church shall do nothing which looks like deciding between them; that would be partiality. It is bigotry to assert any superior right for the truth. We are to agree to differ and any favoring of the truth, because it is truth, is partisanship. What the friends of truth and error hold in common is fundamental. Anything on which they differ is “ipso facto” non-essential. Anybody who makes account of such a thing is a disturber of the peace of the church. Truth and error are two co-ordinate powers, and the great secret of church-statesmanship is to preserve the balance between them.
From this point error soon goes on to its natural end, which is to assert supremacy. Truth started with tolerating; it comes to be merely tolerated and that only for a time. Error claims a preference for its judgments on all disputed points. It puts men into position, not as at first in spite of their departure from the Church’s faith, but in consequence of it. Their recommendation is that they repudiate that faith, and position is given them to teach others to repudiate it, and make them skillful in combating it."
(pp. 195-196) From: “THE CONSERVATIVE REFORMATION AND ITS THEOLOGY as represented in the Augsburg Confession and in the history and literature of the Evangelical Lutheran Church” by Charles P. Krauth, D.D. (1871). [Note date]
---Katie
Indulged in this for a time, error goes on to assert equal rights. Truth and error are two balancing forces. The Church shall do nothing which looks like deciding between them; that would be partiality. It is bigotry to assert any superior right for the truth. We are to agree to differ and any favoring of the truth, because it is truth, is partisanship. What the friends of truth and error hold in common is fundamental. Anything on which they differ is “ipso facto” non-essential. Anybody who makes account of such a thing is a disturber of the peace of the church. Truth and error are two co-ordinate powers, and the great secret of church-statesmanship is to preserve the balance between them.
From this point error soon goes on to its natural end, which is to assert supremacy. Truth started with tolerating; it comes to be merely tolerated and that only for a time. Error claims a preference for its judgments on all disputed points. It puts men into position, not as at first in spite of their departure from the Church’s faith, but in consequence of it. Their recommendation is that they repudiate that faith, and position is given them to teach others to repudiate it, and make them skillful in combating it."
(pp. 195-196) From: “THE CONSERVATIVE REFORMATION AND ITS THEOLOGY as represented in the Augsburg Confession and in the history and literature of the Evangelical Lutheran Church” by Charles P. Krauth, D.D. (1871). [Note date]
---Katie
Salt Lake City Terror?
Just read on Free Republic that the shooter in the Salt Lake City mall shooting was a Bosnian Muslim. Haven't documented it from an actual MSM source, so if I hear differently I post it.
---Katie
---Katie
Congratulations James!!!!
Woohoo! Kassie and I picked the winner of Best in Show at Westminster...yes we did actually sit and watch the dog show. Well, I stamped and cut cards while I watched it. We have seen James in other shows and we picked him for tonight! What a great dog!
Click on the title to see his website!
---Katie
Click on the title to see his website!
---Katie
She loves cheetahs, cheetahs love her....
...to eat. I guess this is a Darwin moment. On his birthday even.
BRUSSELS, Belgium — An animal lover was mauled to death by cheetahs after entering their cage at a zoo in northern Belgium, authorities and zoo officials said Monday.
Karen Aerts, 37, of Antwerp, was found dead in the cage, Olmense Zoo spokesman Jan Libot said. Police said they ruled out any foul play.
Authorities believe Aerts, a regular visitor to the zoo, hid in the park late Sunday until it closed and managed to find the keys to the cheetah cage.
"Karen loved animals. Unfortunately the cheetahs betrayed her trust," Libot said.
One of the cats that killed Aerts was named Bongo, whom the woman had adopted under a special program. She paid for Bongo's food, Libot said.
Animal rights group GAIA called for the immediate closure of the zoo, located 55 miles northeast of Brussels, saying it was unsafe for both visitors and the cats.
Rudy Demotte, the Belgian minister responsible for animal welfare, sent a team to investigate.
-----
I guess it is really unsafe if you expect to get in the cage with wild animals! They betrayed her trust...that statement is just wrong on so many levels!
---Katie
BRUSSELS, Belgium — An animal lover was mauled to death by cheetahs after entering their cage at a zoo in northern Belgium, authorities and zoo officials said Monday.
Karen Aerts, 37, of Antwerp, was found dead in the cage, Olmense Zoo spokesman Jan Libot said. Police said they ruled out any foul play.
Authorities believe Aerts, a regular visitor to the zoo, hid in the park late Sunday until it closed and managed to find the keys to the cheetah cage.
"Karen loved animals. Unfortunately the cheetahs betrayed her trust," Libot said.
One of the cats that killed Aerts was named Bongo, whom the woman had adopted under a special program. She paid for Bongo's food, Libot said.
Animal rights group GAIA called for the immediate closure of the zoo, located 55 miles northeast of Brussels, saying it was unsafe for both visitors and the cats.
Rudy Demotte, the Belgian minister responsible for animal welfare, sent a team to investigate.
-----
I guess it is really unsafe if you expect to get in the cage with wild animals! They betrayed her trust...that statement is just wrong on so many levels!
---Katie
Saturday, February 10, 2007
This is what you get when the so-called liberals are in charge!
I used to think that if someone belonged to the Democrat Party or called themselves liberal, they believed that people should be free to make choices about how to live their lives. That is not really true.
Large cities are usually run by liberals. They use draconian gun control laws to deprive law abiding citizens of the right to defend themselves from criminals (who still seem to have no trouble getting guns for themselves!)
New York City has banned trans fats in it's restaurants; Philadelphia is poised to follow. So we are too dumb to figure out what we should and should not eat? And, yes, I think people should be allowed to eat unhealthy foods if they so desire.
And here is the latest...
A New York state senator has announced his plan to introduce legislation that would ban the use of electronic devices such as iPods, BlackBerrys and cell phones while crossing streets in major cities.
State Sen. Carl Krueger, a Democrat who represents New York's 27th district in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, claimed that the phenomenon of "iPod oblivion" has led to a number of fatal accidents on urban streets. While he did not cite any statistical studies that have indicated a rise in such incidents, he referred to the January death of a 23-year-old Brooklyn man who, tuned into his iPod headphones, walked into the path of a city bus.
The bill would effectively make it illegal to use any kind of portable electronic device--a music or video player, cell phone, smart phone, gaming device, etc.--while crossing the street in cities such as New York, Albany and Buffalo. Offenders would be slapped with a $100 fine and a criminal court summons. Joggers and bicyclists would have to limit their iPod use to city parks in which no street crossing would be involved.
This is s democrat, folks, of the party that says it champions the rights of the average person. I guess the average person is too dumb to know what is good for him or her and needs the government to regulate every little aspect of life, right down to when you can use your phone or iPod. Sheesh.
Now that they have the power, you can expect to see more of this silliness. Not really all that interested in fighting the war on Islamic Fascism, but we want to make sure you use your iPods safely.
And you say you are looking forward to voting for Hillary?
Click on the title for the entire article.
---Katie
Large cities are usually run by liberals. They use draconian gun control laws to deprive law abiding citizens of the right to defend themselves from criminals (who still seem to have no trouble getting guns for themselves!)
New York City has banned trans fats in it's restaurants; Philadelphia is poised to follow. So we are too dumb to figure out what we should and should not eat? And, yes, I think people should be allowed to eat unhealthy foods if they so desire.
And here is the latest...
A New York state senator has announced his plan to introduce legislation that would ban the use of electronic devices such as iPods, BlackBerrys and cell phones while crossing streets in major cities.
State Sen. Carl Krueger, a Democrat who represents New York's 27th district in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, claimed that the phenomenon of "iPod oblivion" has led to a number of fatal accidents on urban streets. While he did not cite any statistical studies that have indicated a rise in such incidents, he referred to the January death of a 23-year-old Brooklyn man who, tuned into his iPod headphones, walked into the path of a city bus.
The bill would effectively make it illegal to use any kind of portable electronic device--a music or video player, cell phone, smart phone, gaming device, etc.--while crossing the street in cities such as New York, Albany and Buffalo. Offenders would be slapped with a $100 fine and a criminal court summons. Joggers and bicyclists would have to limit their iPod use to city parks in which no street crossing would be involved.
This is s democrat, folks, of the party that says it champions the rights of the average person. I guess the average person is too dumb to know what is good for him or her and needs the government to regulate every little aspect of life, right down to when you can use your phone or iPod. Sheesh.
Now that they have the power, you can expect to see more of this silliness. Not really all that interested in fighting the war on Islamic Fascism, but we want to make sure you use your iPods safely.
And you say you are looking forward to voting for Hillary?
Click on the title for the entire article.
---Katie
Friday, February 09, 2007
ELCA Discipline Hearing Committee Rules in Atlanta Case
From the ELCA News Service:
A discipline hearing committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) ruled Feb. 7 that the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling be removed from the ELCA clergy roster effective Aug. 15, 2007. Schmeling, who reported to his bishop that he is in a committed relationship with another man, is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Atlanta.
In case you are thinking, "Finally, someone is standing up for traditional values and enforcing the will of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly," read on:
The text of the decision indicated that the committee was nearly unanimous in its concern that "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline" and "Vision and Expectations: Ordained Ministers in the ELCA" "are at least bad policy, and may very well violate the constitution and bylaws of this church." The committee said it was specifically concerned with a sentence in "Definitions and Guidelines" that states: "Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church."
The committee said that if it was relieved of that requirement, it would find "almost unanimously that Pastor Schmeling is not engaged in conduct that is incompatible with the ministerial office, and would find with near unanimity that no discipline of any sort should be imposed against him."
The committee "respectfully" suggested that, through normal legislative processes, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly initiate a process to:
+ reconsider and revise "Definitions and Guidelines," removing language that specifically precludes practicing homosexuals from the ordained ministry
+ reconsider and revise "Vision and Expectations," removing specific prohibitions against homosexual sexual relationships
+ reconsider and revise the policy on reinstatement to the ELCA clergy and professional lay rosters to permit immediate reinstatement of persons who have resigned or have been removed from the rosters of the ELCA solely because they entered into a loving, lifelong partnership with another person of the same sex that is mutual, chaste and faithful. Normally people who seek reinstatement to the official rosters must wait at least five years.
And, further, note that this year's Churchwide Assembly will end August 11, four days before Schmeling's termination date of August 15.
As my husband said when I read this info to him last night, this is a set up.
Sigh. And I am a voting member this year. And I hoped that the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals would not be the focus of yet another assembly.
Click on the title!
---Katie
A discipline hearing committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) ruled Feb. 7 that the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling be removed from the ELCA clergy roster effective Aug. 15, 2007. Schmeling, who reported to his bishop that he is in a committed relationship with another man, is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Atlanta.
In case you are thinking, "Finally, someone is standing up for traditional values and enforcing the will of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly," read on:
The text of the decision indicated that the committee was nearly unanimous in its concern that "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline" and "Vision and Expectations: Ordained Ministers in the ELCA" "are at least bad policy, and may very well violate the constitution and bylaws of this church." The committee said it was specifically concerned with a sentence in "Definitions and Guidelines" that states: "Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained ministry of this church."
The committee said that if it was relieved of that requirement, it would find "almost unanimously that Pastor Schmeling is not engaged in conduct that is incompatible with the ministerial office, and would find with near unanimity that no discipline of any sort should be imposed against him."
The committee "respectfully" suggested that, through normal legislative processes, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly initiate a process to:
+ reconsider and revise "Definitions and Guidelines," removing language that specifically precludes practicing homosexuals from the ordained ministry
+ reconsider and revise "Vision and Expectations," removing specific prohibitions against homosexual sexual relationships
+ reconsider and revise the policy on reinstatement to the ELCA clergy and professional lay rosters to permit immediate reinstatement of persons who have resigned or have been removed from the rosters of the ELCA solely because they entered into a loving, lifelong partnership with another person of the same sex that is mutual, chaste and faithful. Normally people who seek reinstatement to the official rosters must wait at least five years.
And, further, note that this year's Churchwide Assembly will end August 11, four days before Schmeling's termination date of August 15.
As my husband said when I read this info to him last night, this is a set up.
Sigh. And I am a voting member this year. And I hoped that the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals would not be the focus of yet another assembly.
Click on the title!
---Katie
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Reading at Risk?
Did you see the movie Holes? How about Because of Winn Dixie? The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
My family has enjoyed all of these. What I did not know was how they came to appear on the big screen.
Michael Flaherty is a man on a mission - a mission to stop the decline in reading that, in his words, that will cause literary reading to disappear as a leisure activity in a half a century.
Here is an excerpt about his mission:
Walden Media was started several years ago by myself, Cary Granat, and Phil Anschutz. We wanted to create a company dedicated to recapturing imagination, rekindling curiosity, and demonstrating the rewards of knowledge and virtue. All of our films would be based on great books, great people, and great historical events. They would be made by the best talent in entertainment and they would all be linked to educational materials developed by some of the best talent in education. We were taking Henry David Thoreau’s famous advice—to march to the beat of a different drummer—to Hollywood, which is why we decided to name our company after Thoreau’s most famous book, Walden.
-------
Click on the title to read more about Walden Media and the two films they have coming out this month. I guess we will have to make a couple of trips to the movies this month.
----Katie
My family has enjoyed all of these. What I did not know was how they came to appear on the big screen.
Michael Flaherty is a man on a mission - a mission to stop the decline in reading that, in his words, that will cause literary reading to disappear as a leisure activity in a half a century.
Here is an excerpt about his mission:
Walden Media was started several years ago by myself, Cary Granat, and Phil Anschutz. We wanted to create a company dedicated to recapturing imagination, rekindling curiosity, and demonstrating the rewards of knowledge and virtue. All of our films would be based on great books, great people, and great historical events. They would be made by the best talent in entertainment and they would all be linked to educational materials developed by some of the best talent in education. We were taking Henry David Thoreau’s famous advice—to march to the beat of a different drummer—to Hollywood, which is why we decided to name our company after Thoreau’s most famous book, Walden.
-------
Click on the title to read more about Walden Media and the two films they have coming out this month. I guess we will have to make a couple of trips to the movies this month.
----Katie
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