Weakness vs Good Manners

Doesn't it seem like a good thing that our new president hasn't yet been burned in effigy by foreign protestors? I guess they're leaving that up to Fox News.

I've listened to all the invective directed at the President for his too-friendly handshake with Hugo Chavez, his acceptance of an America-bashing book by Chavez, and his attendance at an angry speech given by Daniel Ortega on American Imperialism.

I can't say that Hugo Chavez is my favorite political leader. He's probably not Obama's, either. Regardless, our American president was attending the summit of the Americas. It wasn't a social occasion - it was a political summit. Some people believe in being polite even to people who they don't really care for. And when the leader of a country offers you a book in public, I can't see how it would be anything other than completely rude to refuse to take it. Why create an international incident over such a small thing? President Obama probably had not even read the book, so he had no idea of the contents. In any case, he is not responsible for the contents of any books other than his own.

Again, President Obama was sitting in the audience during a speech given by Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua. Daniel Ortega is certainly not my favorite political leader. He's had his own accusations of corruption in his government and doesn't have his hands clean either. But when you attend a convention, isn't it ok to listen to points of view that are different from your own? Obama wasn't putting his stamp of approval on the guy. He was just exhibiting good manners. A good thing.

Who Would Jesus Torture?

I understand some of the debate about torture. The idea that someone who is in custody has information who could save people's lives would make you want to get it out of them, one way or another. I also understand those who say that torture weakens our stature in the world and serves as a great recruiting tool for the loonies who hate us.

But what I have trouble understanding is why Christians on the right are so quick to embrace torture. Isn't the definition of Christianity to be Christ-like? I read nothing about Jesus that would lead me to believe that he would support torture.

Maybe I missed the gospel that explains why Jesus is pissed about taxes, pro death penalty, and insists on the right to buy semi-automatic weapons. I am a big fan, both of Jesus and of Christians. But I don't understand the conflict between the actual teachings of Jesus and the political positions that most self-identified Christians favor.

Don't Exit, Texas!

Last week I thought I must be having some kind of weird flashback to 1860, when the crazy people started talking about not wanting to be part of the United States.

Much to my astonishment, there really was a presumably sober adult talking about secession. This person was none other than Rick Perry, current governor of Texas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5xTxcFA398

I can't help but wonder if he is fully knowledgeable about what happened the last time Texas seceded from the United States. Four year civil war. About a million deaths. Decimated economy.

I've heard people try to explain away his nutty remarks, including him. But the fact remains that he mentioned secession as a real alternative, only three months after a new president has been inaugurated. Does anyone else see any irony between the 1860 secession because of the issue of slavery, and the current secession talk arising so soon after the election of the first African American president?

Nah, me neither. This secession is all about taxes. Just like the first one was all about states' rights.