7
POPSRemebering the roots of a REAL Civil War
More: After decades of mistrust and recrimination over the conflict between slavery and free labor, many in the North and South now found themselves even more fundamentally at odds. As Northerners increasingly hailed Brown as a hero, panicky Southerners execrated him as the devil himself. The tempest over John Brown appeared to shatter any hope of regional reconciliation. As one South Carolina editor put it, "The day of compromise is passed there is no peace for the South in the Union." It would be too much to claim that John Brown's raid made the Civil War inevitable. But it is fair to say that it helped to create an unbridgeable gap between the free states and the slave power that could only be, as Brown himself put it, "purged away with blood." There are many lessons that can be drawn from John Brown's raid, but the experience of the Civil War ought to stand as a permanent rebuke to the irresponsible incitement of contemporary political figures who trade so easily
5
POPSPush for Kennedy Successor Stirs Political Storm
Now, with Mr. Kennedy dying three years before his term was up, some Massachusetts Democrats are reversing course, calling for Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint an interim replacement to hold office until the special election can be held. They now argue the state shouldn't be without full Senate representation for months, especially with pressing issues such as health care before Congress. The Massachusetts situation is the latest to erupt over filling vacant U.S. Senate seats, following particularly messy appointments in New York and Illinois. Away from the political infighting, mourners lamented Massachusetts's loss of clout in the U.S. Senate. "Whoever goes in will not have remotely close to the influence he had," said Ted Glynn of Boston. "That's a big concern." The question of how to fill Mr. Kennedy's seat is vexing Democrats. In 2004, Mr. Kennedy supported a special election rather than a gubernatorial appointment. Yet more recently, he wrote to Mr. Patrick . .
10
POPSTea Party movement smells like racism I went to a meeting of these folks. They were being led by a failed Republican congressional candidate from the Deep South, who was also a loser in Chico's elections last year. Everything I saw and heard at the meeting sounded like Fox News/Republican Party non-ideas. Sensing partisanship on their Web site I sought information. Choosing the direct route, I asked via e-mail. Are you Republicans? I asked. They would not deny it. Are you racists? I asked. They would not deny that either. Wow. You'd think they would. Their position is more understandable now. They are not completely stupid, just afflicted with one of the oldest diseases known to mankind. Narrow minds. > Talk about a narrow minded moron - Quentin - no one can top you on that <
11
POPSThe Statue of Liberty calls bullshit on the "White, Christian Nation" crap Some people think that the end of "white" Christian hegemony in this country is a disaster . They think that this country was founded for and by white Christians and their descendants. Lady Liberty, out in the harbor of the city of my birth, told this son of immigrants that was a racist lie since I could read. Was a time when Italians & Irish were dirty, savage, Catholic semi-humans who could never be "real Americans". Go watch Gangs of New York . My father is from the Philippines, my mother's family is from Ireland. I was born in Brooklyn, and I'm a Zen practioner who lives in California. I am as American as it gets, baby. Diversity breeds strength. Inbreeding breeds weakness and insanity. Just look at European aristocrats. I am not more American than a white Christian. But assert I any LESS American... @ that point, I'm more NEW YORK than I am Zen.
4
POPSGet Ready Because Fleet Week Starts Tomorrow
(like tug of war; Saturday, May 23), and a Memorial Day ceremony with the unfurling of a 100-foot flag, a 3-volley rifle salute, and military flyover (Monday, May 25). Six ships will be taking part in the parade in a "wedge formation": At the front of the wedge is the U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender Katherine Walker. The rest of the wedge consists of three U.S. Navy coastal patrol craft - the Tempest, Hurricane and Thunderbolt, and two Army vessels - the Gelding and Hayward. Following the wedge is the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), then two Canadian ships, the air defense destroyer HMCS Athabaskan, and the multi-role patrol frigate HMCS Fredericton. Next in line is the U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter Spencer, followed by two more Canadian ships, the multi-role patrol frigate HMCS Montreal, and the multi-role patrol frigate HMCS St. John’s. The final ship in the Parade of Ships is the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).
11
POPSNature v nurture? Please don't ask "These results show the sterility of the old nature-nurture debate. Nature works through nurture, and nurture through nature, to shape our personalities, aptitudes, health and behavior. The question should not be which is the dominant influence, but how they fit together. " A very interesting account on the debate with its scientific and social roots. The striking thing is to see in perspective how new discoveries are fast adopted/adjusted in serving other needs; which calls for one to be a critical thinker as to not fall pray to some of the conceptual traps.
5
POPSStations of the Cross I Our belief in the meaning and value of all divine permissions must remain unshaken. No matter how insoluble the puzzle may appear to our human understanding, even in such moments we must feel secure in the infinite love of God. He who has true confidence in God knows that God has not become indifferent to us because He allows His foes to parade in triumph for a while; he remembers Jesus chiding His disciples when they, frightened by the tempest, awoke Him: “Why are you fearful, o ye of little faith?”
4
POPSDespite Outcry, Gandhi Items Sell for $1.8 Million For Mr. Otis, the sale was to be a means to promote pacifist causes, although the uproar later proved to be upsetting. Antiquorum Auctioneers insisted that the sale would go on regardless. The dispute drew comparisons to an incident at Christie’s in Paris last month in which a Chinese collector said he was the winning bidder for Qing Dynasty bronze sculptures but refused to pay, saying he was sabotaging the auction because the works had been looted in the 19th century.
2
POPSHe Says I'm Sorry - Sort Of While not retracting his claims that the Holocaust never took place, the bishop says I'm sorry for hurting others feelings. Seems as though the leaders of the funny hat club got to him.
0
POPSchristian cash gifting programs True christian cash gifting with absolutely no 1 up. Give and Then ye shall receive. It just doesn't get any more christian cash gifting than that folks. Good luck and God bless you!