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| Double Standards? |
| 07.10.05 (11:20 am) [edit] |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid urged President Bush on Saturday to say "no to the far right" and nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court someone who will rule with "an open mind and a big heart."
"We need an independent thinker who will follow the Constitution, not a knee-jerk conservative crusader who will march in lock-step to the tune of partisan pressure groups," Reid of Nevada said in his party's weekly radio address.
I have a very simple question regarding this quote...would someone with a big heart automatically thing all conservatives don't have a big heart? This isn't the kind of talk that aids reconciliation between the two parties...it will be interesting to see how this pans out.
Mike
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| Inspired |
| 06.22.05 (7:21 am) [edit] |
My youth worship group just finished putting together a pretty awesome album. One song on it is called "Tears of Christ." One day when spending a little time with God this inspired me to write the following. It's nothing huge but I do believe there's a message in it for those who are willing to listen and look for it.
Mike
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Tears of Christ
He stood there, with his hand around the golden scepter and looked at me with saddened eyes. I, I bowed before him, my head touching the floor as I stretched almost prostrate. There was little else I could do. And he cried. One silver tear sliding down the contours of his face before slipping over the edge and landing upon my hair.
My own tears streamed from my eyes and I could not say I was sorry. My tears said it for me, speaking far louder than the words that I might say. I was sorry.
*****
One golden drop reached me as I knelt in front of him. My heart thumped and cried out from inside and still he looked at me. Dressed in his rags he mourned with me. One nail-scarred hand reached out and tenderly squeezed my shoulder.
“My child,” He whispered. “I know your pain.”
I lifted my head as my eyes searched for his own. His face was drawn with the sense of loss and then he astounded me. He knelt with me, his arms reaching around my body as he allowed me to bury my head upon his shoulder. The tears spoke for themselves. I wished it had not happened.
“So do I.” He cried with me. “But I am here.”
*****
I smiled up at him and he smiled back. His face was radiant, his clothes golden, and the whole room reflected his splendor. The ground was covered in crystals that shone his light in a myriad of directions. My heart burst inside me as I felt the joy well up and he stepped forward, that great voice of his echoing throughout the throne room.
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
I felt a tear run down my cheek and was startled to se his response. There in front of me I could clearly see a single tear of joy shed for me.
*****
What was there left to offer him? He had everything. In his room there were diamonds of all shapes and sizes, of every description you could imagine. Sapphire, Emerald and Ruby. His retinue was arrayed in garments more costly than any earthly possession. The whole Kingdom stretched forever into eternity past and future. A single young woman stood in front of him. What could she give him?
He seemed to sense her thoughts and shifted slightly on his great golden throne. Even the streets were made of gold. He waited while she came one step closer.
“I have the world, the planets and a the solar systems. I have the stars and galaxies. I have the sounds of a million choirs, the roar of many oceans. The greatness of the mountains shout to me and the depth of the valleys reverberate with my love. A billion people worship me and I have every animal ever conceived by the minds of man. The darkness of space sings my praise and the glory of a sunrise is my sign. The sunset speaks from my heart to yours. I have it all.” He smiled, not one of pride or arrogance; it was warm and accepting.
“Then what can I give to you?” She asked.
“All I have ever wanted.” There was a pause, “Your heart.”
She smiled.
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Copyright Michael Davies 2005
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| Still around |
| 04.20.05 (12:01 pm) [edit] |
I'm still around, juts my brains been used alot more recently and so i've not had the same time to blog but the topics I said i would discuss will be discussed at some point I believe:)
Mike
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| John Edredge |
| 02.26.05 (3:53 pm) [edit] |
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I think this author is one of the best Christian Author's I have ever read. His book "Wild at Heart" is one of only two, minus the Bible, that I can really claim have changed my life. I read it quite a while back now but it basically is aimed men and talks about being a 'man of God.' It isn't your tpical nice guy book though. This is real, the whole thing smacks of reality and is a huge challenge and conviction.
He talks from the surmise that a man basically has three things he is born for.
1) A battle to fight
2) A beauty to win
3) An adventure to live
I recommend him highly to anyone out there! In fact I'll see if my friend Mark will let me post his summary of the book on here! From what I understand he has a new book out called "EPIC" and it seems to be every bit of good though I didn't like "Journey of Desire" quite so much.
If you're looking for what it really means to be a man of God I'd say check this out! It definitely will change your life!
Mike
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| Illogical? |
| 02.19.05 (6:25 pm) [edit] |
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You can hold a standard of right and wrong, you can have absolutes and you can still love people whether or not they break the standard. If they attain it cool, if they don't, it doesn't make the standard wrong but it doesn't change the way you love them.
How can people say that by setting a standard, by believing in a right or wrong you are judging and hating the people who don't reach that standard...the whole of Christianity is based upon a standard! It is also based upon love. God set a standard, none can reach the standard, God sends Jesus instead, he alone could reach it, he paid the penalty for the rest of us that couldn't. HE WAS SENT WHEN WE COULDN'T REACH THE STANDARD! WE WERE STILL LOVED THEN!
As Christians we have a firm belief that we are all sinners...and we try and love everyone regardless...hating the evil, loving the person...it's the very basis of our faith! That God hated the evil we did yet loves us!
Those are my thoughts...
Mike
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| Kyoto Agreement - Good or Bad? |
| 02.16.05 (6:38 am) [edit] |
Perhaps by even suggesting in the title there might be a possible bad outcome to this agreement I have isolated myself from the people I hoped would read this blog. Perhaps I have already been 'outcast' from the 'reliable' positions worth reading. I hope I haven't, this is not necessarily an anti Kyoto blog - nor is it pro.
The Kyoto agreement is possibly the most important agreement of our times, ratified by 141 different Nations - even those who oppose it would do good to examine it and know why they oppose it. Just as those who are for it should do well to see the argument against it and make an effort to understand why.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050216/325/fckmy.html" title="http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050216/325/fckmy.html" target="_blank"http://uk.news.yahoo.com/0502...
The above article briefly explains the signing of the agreement - the United Nations and Kofi Annan unsurprisingly support it. Perhaps some of the key things mentioned are that 1) China and India are left out of the agreement , two of the major developing countries who will soon likely contribute more heat trapping gasses into the atmosphere than the United States of America who is currently responsible for a quarter of those gasses.
2) That Kyoto agrees to curbing the emissions of these heat trapping gasses but not stopping them altogether. Indeed, estimates show that - 0.1 C will be the difference in temperature that it shall make when there is a projected increase of 1.4 - 5.8C by the year 2100.
That is if you believe such things. International Co-operation is certainly a good thing. Please don't get me wrong. However, I find it surprising that in the Scientific community that is supposedly objective, scientists who are against the Kyoto agreement and believe that it will have little effect have been ignored. These scientists are often environmentalists! They believe the climate is changing and yet their opposition voice is not heard. Where is the evidence. Let me lead you to a link that contains many scientist names, all highly respected with positions of teaching at various upstanding universities.
http://www.envirotruth.org/myth_experts.cfm" title="http://www.envirotruth.org/myth_experts.cfm" target="_blank"http://www.envirotruth.org/my...
There's a number of them as you can see, all contactable incase one doesn't believe it. This I believe, only numbers the scientists from Canada as well.
That's not to say there isn't evidence for global warming, or that much of the Scientific community does not believe there is.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/ 5702/1686" title="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/ 5702/1686" target="_blank"http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi...
This article is interesting, highlighting key point though it does seem to be the case that either the article above is lying or the list of 'experts' who are anti Kyoto are not real... The following quote from this article would inidcate that of all the scientific papers studied to see what part of the scientific community did not agree with the consensus that climate change was caused by human activity - none actively disagreed.
"The 928 papers were divided into six categories: explicit endorsement of the consensus position, evaluation of impacts, mitigation proposals, methods, paleoclimate analysis, and rejection of the consensus position. Of all the papers, 75% fell into the first three categories, either explicitly or implicitly accepting the consensus view; 25% dealt with methods or paleoclimate, taking no position on current anthropogenic climate change. Remarkably, none of the papers disagreed with the consensus position."
I would like to see where these papers were taken from...what was the sample like?
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=34630" title="http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=34630" target="_blank"http://releases.usnewswire.co...
This article certainly seems to indicate that there is another method of measuring climate change as opposed to the one that has been improved. Is it possible the majority of scientists are wrong. In the days of Gallileo and Columbus they were - could the minority with their differeing views be right...it is certainly worth hearing their opinions surely. I never heard of them when I was in Britain. The news never covered them, they were deemed, "uncaring" "unfeeling" individuals who just simply did not care for our world.
Many environmentalists think that those who oppose such things are Kyoto are like this. How did they get this opinion? I don't know. Is it possible that others do care for the world but do not believe that curbing heat trapping gasses and the like will stop it?
I put a link to the following article, which has an obvious anti kyoto bias simply because it brings up an interesting quote from a David Graber of the National Park service and goes down a line of thought that might be interesting to follow.
http://www-tech.mit.edu/V121/N18/col18craig.18c.html" title="http://www-tech.mit.edu/V121/N18/col18craig.18c.html" target="_blank"http://www-tech.mit.edu/V121/...
"David Graber of the National Park Service tells us that he values wilderness “for its own sake, not for what value it confers upon mankind ... We are not interested in the utility of a particular species, of free-flowing river, or ecosystem to mankind. They have intrinsic value, more value -- to me -- than another human body, or a billion of them.”
This is the quote that interested me...this man really believes that the environment has more value than a human life...is human life really so uselessly valuable in his eyes? I have yet to check out this source and confirm this quote but if it proves to be true I think we have a problem.
Again, I do have to question the tactics emploed by pro environmentalists at times. In Canada the debate for signing the Kyoto agreement was interesting.
http://www.envirotruth.org/cbc_bias.cfm" title="http://www.envirotruth.org/cbc_bias.cfm" target="_blank"http://www.envirotruth.org/cb...
If this is true then the media covereage was very much skewed. Surely it benefits pro Kyoto scientists and lobbysists to try and group all those against such treaties together in one large brush stroke, labled something like "OIL LOVERS" - but surely to stoop so far as to be deceiving about this is wrong? Or are some rules allowed to be broken in the search for common ground that can save our world?
People seem interested in the rising heat temperatures - is it possible things were hotter in the 11th and 12th century...but you say...we had no method of measuring temperature that long ago. We do however have writings from Monks who recorded what was going on. It seems from their writings they all recorded unusually warm years within this period.
http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/ice/lec19/le c19.htm#little" title="http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/ice/lec19/le c19.htm#little" target="_blank"http://academic.emporia.edu/a...
This site details how over the last one thousand years we have undergone several climate changes. A mini ice age in which vinlands completely disappeared from England. - Incidntially this means they were grown there at one stage which under current weather conditions is not quite possible, things need to be warmer for this to be so.
At the end of the day whether we disagree or agree with Kyoto it has now taken place. It's an agreement with limited possibility of success. in 2012 it will be rectified again. If the environment is changing due to man then the billions it will cost to prevent climate change will be worth it. However it is interesting that if we spend billions and it still changes the environmentalists have a ready argument for why...too little too late...what this amount of money will do is slow down economies and likely cause the tax payer to pay more - worth it or not you decide.
My person opinion at the moment - is I want to hear more of the arguments against - it seems pointless to sign a treaty with China, India and the United States not involved and even if they were involved it wouldn't curb the gasses enough...lets have a big debate, hear both sides of the argument FAIRLY and then do something that will make an impact.
From the late side of getting to work.
Mike
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| Coming up |
| 02.10.05 (2:02 pm) [edit] |
I'm not going to be able to post a bog for a few days, probably at some point next week the way things are going. So I just thought I'd post a few topics I might be looking at. Maybe if some of you out there have things you want to say you can do so in the comments section here on this blog:)
1) Postmodernism - The current world view etc - is it necessarily a good thing?
2) Trade Unions - Good vs Bad - Help vs Damage
3) Stossel - A look at his book.
4) Christianity on Trial - inspired by a book - a look at what it has added to history, both good and bad.
5) The Europeon Union and it's Constitution - Why do we need a constitution - what's the alternative? How do countries fare that have declined the euro - who have left the EU?
That will do for now:)
Mike
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| The Patriot Act |
| 02.07.05 (1:24 pm) [edit] |
Details of the Patriot Act can be found at the below link.
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3 162.html" title="http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3 162.html" target="_blank"http://www.epic.org/privacy/t...
There are several issues I have with this particular act. The first is that it is too broad. Who constitues what terrorism is? What is deemed enough material to warrant this act being put into action? I understand that in times of crisis extreme actions sometimes have to be taken...it's inevitable and to an extent, it makes things safer. The act its self is fine when used by decent people full of integrity. When a decent government is in power, one that can be trusted. Whether or not the Bush administration is one of these decent governments is too early to tell. I don't fall (as you must probably guess from previous blogs) into the cateogory that just seems to fall hook line and sinker for everything bad said against him. History has a way of revealing the truth. Primary sources available in fifty to sixty years will reveal much more than gossip and finger pointing will do in the present day. Still, Bush himself said in the recent American State of the Union that Americans have a duy to their future Americans to secure the country. He claimed Social Securiy was short sighted - I think the Patriot Act is short sighted.
It's a good idea to have to renew it, which I suspect shall be done this year 2005. Many issues have to be looked at and discussed. Terrorism as defined by one man or woman, may be defined differently by another.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in= World&cat=Iran" title="http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in= World&cat=Iran" target="_blank"http://story.news.yahoo.com/f...
This articles shows how Iran and the United States differ in their views. Now obviously they were going to...it is believed that Iran harbours terrorism and promotes it but isn't it just as easy for one man or woman to disagree with another over the definition, as it is a nation? Isn't that why the Patriot Act its self has come under so much opposition. Because some see it as infringing upon human rights, (And for maybe the first time in my life I find myself agreeing with the ACLU) and others see it as necessary to protect human rights? It just grants too much invasion of privacy for, what at times, is far too vague a possibility.
www.uri.org
Under the URI 'fundamentalist Christians' which they define as those who believe in a literal interpretation or definition of the Bible, are deemed as much a threat to society as Suicide Bombers of the Islamic faith. The U.R.I has been publicly endorsed by the United Nations as an NGO organization and remains an integral part in its push for world peace. - The United Nations classes ,inadvertently or perhaps pointedly, Fundamentalist Christians as terrorists - classed on the same lines as Suicide Bombings. If the United Nations had passed a world wide Patriot Act then they would have permission to get information on millions of the worlds population - across Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australasia and Europe, simply because they believe fundamentalist Christians a threat to humanity. - My point is the powers that that the patriot act give the President and Administration are far too sweeping.
Is there another way? I don't know and I hate that I don't know. I hate to criticise things and offer no suggestion or alternative. Perhaps having it up for renewing every few years is the best way to go about it...maybe there's another way entirely. In the present situation it's logical that more Middle Eastern people are going to be investigated than those of other races...this is deemed racist but actually when I look at it objectively I don't think it is. There were no blond haired Norwegians involved in the Trade Centre bombings...just because of the nature of the last terrorist attack and the fact most Muslims are from the Middle East, then there is going to be more suspiscion placed upon these people. But Law enforcement officers have their hands tied because if they investigate more of these than say the Norwegians etc they can be accused of Racism...and so the Patriot Act was introduced. Perhaps it is more feasible to take every case as at a time and give law enforcement the ability to discriminate based on FACT and current circumstances rather than race or gender? For instance: If there are a series of rapes on women over the course of a few weeks police are going to be looking for a man of certain proportions and phycological background based on the conclusions they draw. In the present terrorist situation surely it makes sense that police will look for more Islamic Koran fearing Muslims than Native Americans for instance?
At the end of the day - we need to be careful not to give the law enforcements officers the ability to look into all my reading, internet and writing activities just because I say something like "The Koran has some good teachings." However, we must not accuse them of discriminating because more muslims are arrested than none muslims - on latest figures they do have the most dead suicide bombers in the world.
Well , I hope this made some sense, perhaps someone will see it and reconsider their stance on the Patriot Act - in the future the same law could be introduced for a different situation. In Britain we had the ability for a while to arrest people without a trial...that's scary and I don't want Britain going down that road, in the same way I think it would be bad for the U.S.A. to continue down this road.
Michael
P.S. I'm sure there are many people with opinions, it's not something I have studied a whole lot but it is something I am willing to listen on - there's much more to say than what has been said.
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| Bush intolerant...racists? Prejudice? |
| 02.04.05 (2:10 pm) [edit] |
So...I've spent a while looking at this quote and thinking about the various policies of the Bush administration...wondering if he is indeed, intolerant of other cultures, unwilling to work with them etc. One my search through a whole host of articles and web sites one policy particularly stood out which I thought gave away the lie of all of the above argument.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/africa" title="http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/africa" target="_blank"http://www.whitehouse.gov/inf...
This site links to the White House and Bush's policies on Africa, reading through you see that he states his commitment to bring freedom and liberty to this nation and included is his commitment to end the disease of aids...at least to help fight it.
http://csmonitor.com/2003/0131/p01s04-woaf -html" title="http://csmonitor.com/2003/0131/p01s04-woaf -html" target="_blank"http://csmonitor.com/2003/013...
This site goes into more detail of how he is combatting aids. It looks at the money donates - 500 million in 02-03 combined - not that much you might say but then he commits 1 billion dollars as well. This site clearly states it is an example for other nations to follow. If you take the time to look at how much money other countries donate I think you might be surprised. The U.S.A. gives by far the most money to this cause!
"By and large, observers have been pleasantly surprised by Bush's proposal. "This [initiative] is a signal that the US has decided to respond to the pandemic much more seriously than it has before," said Stephen Lewis, the UN's special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa, in a press release. "It is a signal that will alert the world to do the same," he said, voicing his hope that more developed nations will now donate to the global fund."
It's hoped, so it seems, that America will spur on other countries to do the same thing - implying even in this simple paragraph from this web site - that they don't already...shouldn't it be "shame on the other countries" as well as the United States if you have this problem with them?
My question then, is how can a President supposedly intolerant of other cultures spend so much money - 1 billion is a tenth of what is needed world wide apparently (one tenth from one nation who had an enormous trade deficit) why give so much money if you're intolerant of the cultures in the first place. I didn't see Hitler and Germany giving money to gypsies or Jews...I didn't see Sadam Hussain giving money to the Kurds. I don't see Europe voluntarily giving money to help Russia and I don't think we would see their governments pledge to help wipe out The United States debt. (Yes I know slighly different situation - America should be able to get rid of its own debt given time) What I'm saying is, this administration does show generosity to cultures that it supposedly is "intolerant' towards. I think this blows the whole myth wide open. Just this one piece of evidence! When Europe - which, with the new countries involved now has a larger population than the United States- gives more money to these causes than America then Europe will be in a position to criticise. The same goes for others.
Now having said this, there are things about Bush's policies that I don't like. There are things that he says and does that I don't like...I'll identify some of them in later blogs - the same for the United States. What I get annoyed about however is these sweeping generalisations. For those who might comment on this please - give some evidence - show me some web sites to go to or state some news paper article. Anything! Just don't come in make a sweeping statement and not back it up with something.
Well, that is this particular blog over with.
Mike
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| Bush: Intolerant of other cultures, people and religions... |
| 01.31.05 (9:32 am) [edit] |
So , below is the statement made by a fellow tblog user, the one I'll attempt to look at in a balanced way though I claim no neutrality - anyone with an opinion can not help but be biased.
--"Maybe you should look at the difference in tolerance between Europe and the United States. Europe has fought two wars on its soil over intolerance. They have learned their lesson and they have discovered that they can work together regardless of the countries and cultures of the people involved.
After having experienced this Europe is simply amazed that 59 million people could vote for a leader that is so intolerant of other cultures, people and religions..."--
My first statement is to question the first paragraph above - "they can work together regardless of the countries and cultures of the people involved." -
http://www.cdi.org/russia/334-6.cfm" title="http://www.cdi.org/russia/334-6.cfm" target="_blank"http://www.cdi.org/russia/334...
This article makes for an interesting read - it's by no means the only one of its kind but I thought it was interesting as it isn't your typical article by a Europeon or United States news service. Written in December 9th it shows that no - europe is not able to get on with everybody regardless of who is involved. In this instance it is unwilling to try and see things from Russia's perspective.
"The debate reveals a jarring clash of worldviews. What Russia considers its national interest, the West calls imperialism."
To Europeons this is perhaps obvious but to many Russians it is not imperialism - where is the attempt to try and bridge this gap between two obviously different world views?
"Europe has long accused U.S. President George W. Bush of being too soft on Russia and on human rights and election abuses in the former Soviet Union. While lame duck Powell has been outspoken on Ukraine, Bush has stayed silent, likely to avoid alienating his anti-terrorism ally Putin."
Another piece in the article - Whilst obviously biased it raises some interesting truths. - Europe has stated that George W Bush has been too soft whilst it was Europe who was unwilling to do things about the human rights issues in Iraq and much of the Middle East - perhaps because they see the Islamic culture and the human rights issues raised by such as acceptable due to the religious practices and beliefs of Islamic Fundamentalists? (this is speculation and I don't necessarily think that is the reason they were so soft on the human rights issues in Iraq and the Middle East.) - Either way the point I wish to state is that Europe is as flawed as America in its claims that the United States is unwilling to work with others. There are particular ideals Europe holds too and it will not budge from some of these just as the Bush Administration and many Americans will not move from certain ideals they hold.
As for Bush being intolerant which is the statement in the second paragraph as seen in the opening quote. Let us examine this. Now in Speech it can be argued fairly well that Bush is not intolerant - a good look at the Inauguration speech shows this.
The following link connects to the speech he made at his inauguration.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01 /20050120-1.html" title="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01 /20050120-1.html" target="_blank"http://www.whitehouse.gov/new...
--"In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character - on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before - ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever."--
So in word here is a statement that shows he is open to the 'varied faiths' of American people. That he believes America's ideal of freedom is dependent upon it. Continue to read the paragraphs following this one and you will see he states America is at its best when opposing racism and loving their neighbours. He can not be much clearer than this although he does also quite clearly state in another pargaph:
--"Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.
Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.
The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."
The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side."--
In order to see if his speech and actions match up one would have to look at his policies - as far as his war on terror goes it seems he is unrelenting in dealing with dictators but quite willing to let the people vote for themselves on their new form of government - regardless of faith or culture. Afghanistan and Iraq show this.
At home: He has an American cabinet with the most ethnic diversity ever - that is also something interesting for someone to look at who believes he is intolerant of other cultures...
I'll look more at his policies in another blog but I have to sign off now. So from me to you;) Hope y'all have a great week.
Mike
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| Interaction |
| 01.28.05 (5:23 am) [edit] |
I want this log to be interactive in the way that it listens and examines the comments made by others - obviously I don't have all the time in the world and I won't be able to do this for everything but I'm going to give it a go. With this in mind I've selected the following quotes that I will look over and try and get some interesting facts to examine their validity and opinions. This blog deals only with their quotes - we'll look to discuss them in the next few.
Mike
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"Maybe you should look at the difference in tolerance between Europe and the United States. Europe has fought two wars on its soil over intolerance. They have learned their lesson and they have discovered that they can work together regardless of the countries and cultures of the people involved.
After having experienced this Europe is simply amazed that 59 million people could vote for a leader that is so intolerant of other cultures, people and religions..." -Quote 1
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"There is a difference between "showing respect" for "traditional" values, and being stubborn and not evolving to make necessary changes and society grows and matures" - Quote 2
*************
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| How can 59 Million People be so Dumb |
| 01.27.05 (6:01 am) [edit] |
I remember the newspaper headline from the Daily Mail in Britain. After Bush was re elected Europe was at once bemused and astounded. They coudln't understand it. Interesting isn't it? The countries of Europe and the E.U profess to be nations that can work together and offer compromise, moving forward into the new century as a collective but doens't its stance towards the United States at this time and the supposed "Right wing fundamentalist Christians" bely this line of thinking? They openly admit not to understand how these people think. They do not want to offer compromise with the United States at this time unless the United States comes around to Europes way of thinking. Is Europe in reality only willing to work with those of like mind? It complains that the United States thinks only of its own intentions and own agenda but is it possible that Europe does as well?
As I look at the situation I see both blocs of power in a certain light - a diverging light. Europe is as uncompromising as America in its stance and yet willing to compromise on morals, religion, education and freedom of speech. (i throw freedom of speech out there because I read an article today about Germany thinking of creating a law that will limit the far right parties right to assembly and protest) Whilst I don't agree with what they're protesting about surely one can not decide against their freedom to do so simply because one does not like what they are saying? The United States on the other hand has recently shown its respect for traditional morals, relgion and education and in this way it is unwilling to compromise. The Bush administration calls things black and white, perhaps a mistake because there are undoubtedly at times shades of grey but then the United States is at war and in that frame of mind you have to call things black and white, it's a form of motivation and a narrowing down of objectives. So the United States shoots for what it sees as the target and will not compromise in this, Europe has no target but will compromise on beliefs etc which currently do not coincide with the attitude of the Bush administration. - The future it seems to me - will see Europe and America continue to diverge until either America becomes a secular nation or Europe becomes more aware of its history and reverts back to the ideas and belief systems from which it was founded. For the moment both seem unlikely.
Mike
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| USA - world enemy number 1? |
| 01.26.05 (6:24 pm) [edit] |
I read a news article today where Iran stated that the United States was the worlds number one major threat to world peace...it's an interesting statement to make. Often it seems people lose sight of the reason why things are done. WHy things are said. The majority of Europe probably believes that statement to be true. In fact I know of people who believe under Bush that the U.S.A. has become a war mongering nation. Looking at the facts BUsh has waged war against Terror which included two campaigns against first Afghanistan - which the majority of Europe didn't seem to have a problem with at the time and secondly, Iraq. At the time all the evidence for weapons of mass destruction that has now been found out to be wrong was thought to be true. Not only by the United Staes and the Bush administration but by Europe and Russia as well. So the fact that there have been wars is not in question - but war mongering implies the United States goes out of its way to start them. That it is 'looking' for a fight. I do find some dispute with this line of reasoning.
Firstly - the U.S.A. was attacked by arabs of the Muslim faith, not representing all Arabs but quite a few of them. From that point on the States declared war on Terrorism of all kinds. The united States is at war...and has been since 2001 whether we as the rest of the world like it or not. One can not compare a democracy of the people with a dctatorship where brutal beatings and deaths occur every day. It is not an exageration as some might say. I would ask Europeons and the more socialist minded of people to speak with someone who has been in a country that is now liberated - ask them if they valued the country or people that helped liberate them.
Well that is my piece for today.
Mike
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| Inauguration |
| 01.21.05 (11:34 am) [edit] |
So Bush gives his inauguration and yeah it was cool enough I guess - nothing specific about how things would be accomplished but I guess that isn't what an inauguration speech is about - more for State of The Union and his policy spiel. Still, as an outsider I find this man fascinating...I can't remember anyone from another western nation that has polarised politics quite so much but does that mean he's a bad President. I don't think so. I honestly think it's impossible to say immediately whether what he has persued will have a long term negative or positive effect on America and the world as a whole. As I see it, there are several things to consider.
1)Some people seem to dislike him because he doesn't listen to the rest of the world. -
My thoughts on this vary - it's obviously a good thing to listen to others, to know where they are coming from etc BUT if you're governing a country it's a bit unrealistic to think that everything that country does should be okayed by all other nations...
2)Some people I have personally spoken to don't like him because he is, as they term it, a fundamentalist Christian - by their interpretation of this it means - he believes in the Bible and interprets it as Literal and wants to live his life by its standards. - If this is the reason people don't like him then it strikes me as somewhat hypocritical on their parts - I don't see a problm with it.
3)He's not very concilatory and he's selfish - I read an article today talking about the 3 billion dollars that Bush was donating to Aids - and it was criticised as not sending enough to help aids victims despite the fact this was equal to 1 sixth of the WORLD TOTAL donations for Aids - I wonder at times if its possible to just be thankful. By all means we want more given but sometimes it just isn't possible. We don't have all the data, we don't see half of what crosses his desk
Interesting point - Often left wing people will complain about the power of the media - I remember studying in Sociology that often the media just blatantly follows its own agenda - it lies at times - and yet these same people swallow everything bad that is said about someone they disagree with...a thought to ponder.
Now that i've said some things that seem to be in defence of Bush - here are others that his supporters really should consider: -
1)In order to accomplish anything in office you have to work with the other side. - Yes there are times when it is needed to go it alone but perhaps he can do more to work with others - particularly in his own Nation.
2) Whilst trying to break the back of terrorism one has to be careful that the laws put in place to do so don't risk the freedom one is so valiantly fighting for. - Case in example - Europe is debating whether to outlaw the Nazi Flag. Most sane people would agree Nazi's were evil but when you start dictating what can and can not be worn, what can and can not be said - You start outlawing freedom of speech and expression - you have a problem.
3)Whilst I believe I understand why Bush did not state in the presidential debates that he knew of something he had done wrong - sometimes humility can go a long long way - he has since states things that he knows he should do differently and that shows humility.
Well, that's my small ramble for a while.
Mike
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| New Beginnings |
| 01.14.05 (2:08 pm) [edit] |
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Hey all,
Well here we go again...lets see if I can keep blogging this time or whether it will fall lifelessly by the way side to be trampled on by a whole bunch of good intentions and no follow through...only time will tell.
Mike
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| It's been a while |
| 08.04.04 (2:44 pm) [edit] |
Well even I am surprised by the length of time it's taken me to post again on this blog. I've enjoyed being home for a month or so and I have about another month left, part of it training in Manchester and much of it planning for September but it's all good. My visa has come through and my plane tickets are brought and all is good. I'll continue with "my story' blog soon but not yet...it's late and I need to head to bed. Let me just finish with God is great! He is good and he is awesome!
Mike
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| My Story Part 3 |
| 05.24.04 (10:19 am) [edit] |
I looked back and realised I hadn't written much on the relationships side of my early life. I guess that is because really it never got to a stage where it would form any of my future view points and perspectives until about age 9 and 10. At this stage in my life I entered the last two years or "primary" School and made friends with someone I thought was a 'good mate'. At that stage in my life I wasn't to know any better. He would hang out with me at break and after school etc and was generally a good mate for half of the time but the rest of the time he would basically bully me.
I would find myself getting hit continually either until 1) I would hit back, which I wouldn't do just because that was what they wanted me to do or 2) Swear, which I wouldn't do because I felt it was wrong and am so stubborn I just wouldn't simply because someone was hitting me constantly.
Anyways, looking back I see this stage as the beginning of what were a whole series of friends who would simply bully me and take advantage of my generally nice nature. Being such a young kid and knowing much about life in general I just ignored it. I should have spoken to my parents about it but at that age you don't really want to. This continued in some way or another until about age 14. Things would happen that later that would change my out look back to what a 'real friend' should be and I look back and see that this is where I developed the fierce loyalty that defines all my friendships. Knowing that it's so hard to find someone who truly will value a person for who they are and want nothing in return I strive to base all my friendships on this. And it all began back here.
So ends my Primary school life. Learning that the whole education system was stacked against my beliefs and that even those people who profess to be your friends might turn and 'abuse' you in some way. I left "Primary School' not quite the generally all round happy guy I had been and not quite as trusting as I used to be. I specifically remember the next few years of my life being filled with a distrust of people no matter who they were and learning to defend myself with words and arguments while standing up for my beliefs no matter what people would do try and deter me, struggling with unhappiness all the way. The only time in my life I can't really recall being happy for long periods of time...more is to come...
God bless y'all
Mike
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| Senior Banquet |
| 05.22.04 (11:09 am) [edit] |
Hey there guys, thought I would leave a brief blog about the senior banquet night of LCS school which happens to be a place where alot of my youth go.
It was a really cool night, the way they had arranged the hall with all the lights, mosaics and sectioned off areas was just awesome.
Luke and Carrie looked awesome. It was so cool to see them if not a little sad at the same time to say goodbye to the people who were graduating. Joy and sadness can sometimes go hand in hand together and tonight I think was one of those times. The students at the school are such awesome people. They have their heads screwed on the right way and are people who are gonna do well.
Matt also returned home yesterday which rocked, so Matt, Laura and myself went off to see Shrek 2 and I would say the pulled it off again. It was a good movie, a little crude in places but a great laugh. It was well good! Worth a few bucks to go and see anyways. I had a generally all round good night.
Well life moves on, this week its self has been hectic, stuck in the middle of a fight between two good friends, feeling like I'm being manipulated and walked over in places, having a really cool lass turn me down for the graduation ball :( being accused of grading someone lower because I apparently 'have it in for them' then having another person ask me a similar thing. But the amazing thing is knowing through it all this real peace. Yeah I got frustrated at times, felt stressed and over whelmed at others but I had peace, I had God and that rocked. At the end of the week I look back and have no idea how some relationships will work out or what the effect of some of my actions will be but I know God knows and it is all in his hands and that is great!
I find it's often about perspective and Luke about knocked the nail on the head when he told me stress is often in the mind. Wise for a teenager dat! Like its about how much you dwell on it. There's only so much you can do and if thinking more about it wont solve the issue then don't think about it it only produces worry. Lay it at the cross, give it to Jesus, tell him all about it, commit it into his hands and leave it there:) God is great!
God bless y'all
Love Mike
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| Fundraiser |
| 05.17.04 (10:34 am) [edit] |
I haven't forgotten about 'my story' and 'my job' but I wanted to say briefly something about the fundraiser that has comsumed all the work I have been doing this last week or so. It went awesome. I had a great laugh wearing a make shift kilt, singing a love song and being an evil villain. It was a long story but I think we had it recorded so if so I might just put a link to it on the blog and y'all can watch it. It was a huge success, all the hard work and stress I felt here and there was definitely worth it! Great one God for making it all come together:) I love you!
Meanwhile, I still await a letter from the lady I've asked to the ball...probably a bad sign, in fact almost definitely a bad sign but I have a real peace about it, whatever happens is for the best. Yeah It will stink if she says no but hey at the end of the day it means nothing has changed, nothing got any worse!!! You have to take risks in life and that is what helps make life so interesting.
Anyways, time for me to go hang out with the students a while,
take care all
Mike
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| My story: Continued |
| 05.11.04 (12:44 pm) [edit] |
So I was a christian at 6 years old and went to school as any other kid would. I remember being distinctly aware that most of the kids I hung out with didn't go to church like I did though. Still at that age it wasn't a huge deal. It became apparent that God was an intergral part of my life as i got a few years older when at the age of 8 I challenged my teacher on the theory of evolution.
Now, at that age you have to understand I didn't know half of the scientific reasoning methods I know now to prove creation and point of some serious flaws in the theory of evolution. Still, the teacher started teaching about the Big Bang and how we all came about and I just stood up and said, "I don't think that is right. God made the world not a big bang." I also remember the ensuing experience when she declared that evolution and God could fit together okay and that light was created in the Bible as it evolved and I remember then and there, at the age of eight being as unconvinced as I still am today that the two theories were compatible. I did not come from an ape and I didn't believe that. Still I said God created the world and left it at that.
As I look back at what my life at home was like at that age I realise that the reason I was able to do that was because for the last year I had been reading from Genesis and Exodus and knew God was real, knew he spoke to me and knew that the words in the Bible was true. He had installed that faith and unwavering dog like loyalty from the beginning. I would need it as I grew up and went through school. The Bible, which had been given to me as a present and passed down from my dad, was with me all the time at that age. I would read it at every opportunity. Not because I was forced, (My other two brothers didn't read it) but because I enjoyed it, it came alive to me. It was a book of adventures and I was determined to read it from cover to cover. At that age that particular idea would never have worked and it never did. Still until I reached the 12th chapter of Leviticus I kept on reading solidly and learnt as much as i could about God, the flood, Abraham and Moses. In my mind, it all rocked! That brings me to my next instance of recollection.
Moses. When I was 9 the teacher in my class insisted Moses never actually crossed the red sea. I never said anything that I can remember but I turned to my friend and said "That is a lie" I knew he had crossed it and nothing was going to change my mind. The teachers arguments was something to do with a tide and him crossing when the tide was out...that makes no sense when you think about the location and the Egyptians not being able to cross behind and everything else. Even at that age I knew it made no sense.
The stage was being set for my last two years of Elementary school and what would become a constant argument throughout senior school. More happened that would help define the way I see things now, that shall be explained in my next blog. God's hand was upon my life and looking back now it was obvious.
Hoping this keeps you interested and this story (true story) will make up for my lack of blogs.:)
Mike
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| Yet again |
| 05.07.04 (2:51 pm) [edit] |
Sorry to you guys out there...I always mean to blog but my brain just gets to tired and in all seriousness it isn't on the top of my agenda and it gets put on a back burner. I've had a horrible day and pretty much most everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. I hate having to watch over peoples shoulders to make sure work gets done. I don't understand why it's not done anyways. I've upset one of the guys I most admire who I know Stateside and though it possibly might blow over and the day was not a total waste it is not one I would like to echo again.
Friends as I may have said before, are really important to me and I'm an emotional guy, to upset one upsets me even if its for a good reason because of something I needed to talk to them about or sommat. This was not a good reason, in fact it was a stupid silly reason and I'm angry and upset and mad at several people but ultimately it all falls back on my shoulder cause I'm the one who knows the guy and I'm responsible for any lack of responsibility on my teams part. Yes this may be cryptic but I don't want to give names away. Yes it involves my team and something that happened between them and this friend but that is all i can say, the rest is my feelings. At the moment they suck cause what happened sucks and what really sucks is knowing I could have done more to prevent it but trusted and was once more let down and that it all falls on me.
Signing out on what might be the least positive note of any of my blogs. I'll try and blog more but can't promise to.
Mike
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| The Beginning |
| 04.24.04 (2:20 pm) [edit] |
In looking at the work I do I decided it would make a whole lot more sense in the context of who I am. The decisions we make today affect who we will be tomorrow and in the same way the decisions I made in my past affected where I am today. So from here on in, here is my story.
I was born on the 14th day of the 10th month in the year of our lord nineteen hundred and eighty two somewhere near Fort William in the beautiful and free land of Scotland. My parents names were Merthyn Owen Davies and Christine May Davies. They had by no means lived ordinary lives but that is another story. My dad was a preacher at a church in Scotland but eventually he moved to a town on the north east coast of England known as Grimsby. Gloomy to most it has become a place I can call home and that I love to be in.
I was brougth up in a Christian home with all the usual principals that were taught in such an environment and then at the young age of six I remember some of my friends standing up in Sunday school letting people know they had asked Jesus into their heart. I can remember thinking, hmm, what does that mean? And then I remember thinking that I wanted Jesus. I didn't have a total wholistic view of what that meant at the time but I knew I wanted what these people have, to be able to say Jesus is mine.
I went straight outside after church and remember asking him into my heart, knowing only that it means I knew I needed him, the full understanding that I had done things wrong was only beginning to mature and I am not sure at this time whether I was truly sorry for them but I do remember after asking Jesus to be in my heart that I was filled with like this awesome joy and ever since God's gift of joy has been one of my strong points. A strength he has given to me.
To be continued...
Mike
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| Challenged |
| 04.17.04 (2:56 pm) [edit] |
I have been challenged recently...why when I blog don't I blog about the work I do over here! I challenged myself with that...and there are many reasons for that. So I am going to blog about that more now, since it is something I believe others need to hear about. But before these blogs maybe come flooding in let me just say a few things
1) The work I do is totally legal;) (be explained later)
2) I love it and am in no way ashamed of it, the main reason for not blogging on it is in case some thought I was being illegal which is an easy mis conception to come to.
3) I left those point up there to intrigue you so hopefully you read the blogs that are up and coming.
4) I'm logging off now.
See ya
Mike:)
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| Visits and fun |
| 04.12.04 (12:36 pm) [edit] |
Been a totally awesome weekend! My friend Josh was down and it was great to catch up with him and just spend time chatting, praying, chilling and generally having great fun! walking home at like 2.00 in the morning and going to bed at 5.30, ahh it was great!
Then laura was down and we got to do some surprise stuff for her birthday and that was great fun to! I was disappointed that some of my mates who promised to come never turned up and gutted actually would be a better word but it was cool that Laura enjoyed it anyways!
And then Matt was also down! And I got to spend the whole time wiht Josh or the Wilson family, they are just such great guys! Luke who I mentioned in an earlier blog is one of them, then Carrie, Laura and matt! Their parents are pretty cool as well. It is just great to chill out and relax with them and talk etc. Matt brought a couple of lasses from China and the insight into their culture etc was awesome. I really enjoyed hanging out with them and then they cooked for the whole family on Sunday night and that was great!
I'm sort of on a downer with everyone having gone away back to their lives now! But it will be great to see them again and then there will be even more joy woohoo. Well take care and God bless!
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| Ain't forgotten |
| 03.26.04 (7:50 pm) [edit] |
Well I ain't forgotten about blogging but I have been sort of busy or tired and not been able to think properly about what to write and tonight's no different. But lets see. Luke is out of hospital and back to himself although he still has a lot of healing to go. Still taking pain killers and stuff. Brother and Kevin have been and gone, had an amazing time with them, went fourwheeling, down to NASA and all sorts was great! SPENT time with Laura and Matt who were down for a week holiday too!
They are great guys! Really awesome and I know I've mentioned them before but hey! Acted a little bit of a jerk at the beginning of the week but got myself sorted towards the end. I don't often tell my friends enough how great they are and then at other times I end up just being a pratt...either way I did have a great week in the end. I was a little worried I didn't get to spend enough time with laura and I know she needed a friend with some stuff going on but I think I corrected that towards the end so all is good!
Life continues , pais continues, God continues and I am seeing him help me in so many ways and even if not, my relationship with him is moving and he is awesome!
Went to Newboys, jeremy Camp and Rebecca St James concert that rocked. And that is the news in brief.
See you guys around.God bless
Mike
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