Who is this bigot Chip Saltman who sent a racist message to the Republican National Committee, entitled 'Barack the Magic Negro'? If he's the best the Republicans have, then they deserve the oblivion they seem to be consigning themselves to.
Here's what Peter Yarrow, the co-writer of the song 'Puff the Magic Dragon', from which they pirated their vulgar message, thinks:
The sending of a Christmas greeting by Chip Saltsman to the members of the Republican National Committee that includes a recording of the so-called parody, "Barack the Magic Negro" is not only offensive, it is shocking and saddening in the extreme. It flies in the face of America's deeply held hope for a new era in which common ground and mutual respect characterize the exchanges between our national leaders.
I and my co-writer of "Puff," Lenny Lipton, have been eagerly awaiting an end to the mean-spiritedness, outright disrespect and bigotry that was commonplace prior to this last presidential election. What might have been wearily accepted as "the way it was" in the campaign, is now unacceptable. Obama is not a candidate. He is the President-Elect, and this song insults the office of the Presidency, the people who voted for him, as well as those who did not -- and taking a children's song and twisting it in such vulgar, mean-spirited way, is a slur to our entire country and our common agreement to move beyond racism.
Another source says that the song was first 'sung' on Rush Limbaugh's show. Surprise, surprise!!
According to Burro Chip Saltsman, "I think most people recognize political satire when they see it." Actually, and more importantly, most people recognize insensitive bigotry when they see and hear it.
Given our history of slavery and racial discrimination, this incident has transgressed the boundaries of acceptibility. There is no law against their saying it, but we don't have to accept them within the civil political dialogue either. They are to me as the descendents of the KKK. If they don't see this, then to hell with them.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
A Bad Investment?
I posted sometime ago about the looming bubble in higher education, and how many small, libera-arts colleges could find themselves bankrupt in the near future. Time will tell, of course, and it depends on whether the federal government is going to plow billions of dollars in saving higher education. But here is an article I found on this issue.
Government figures show that of students who entered four-year colleges in 1997, just 54% had earned a degree six years later. A professor wrote about this issue in The Atlantic earlier this year, arguing that it’s immoral to tell all students they can go to college, then crush their dreams by failing half of them. But the problem has deeper effects than hurt feelings: the 54% graduation rate means that around 46% of all money used to finance college tuition results in no degree. Which means that financially speaking, the spectacularly high dropout rate boils down to a spectacularly bad investment.
Government figures show that of students who entered four-year colleges in 1997, just 54% had earned a degree six years later. A professor wrote about this issue in The Atlantic earlier this year, arguing that it’s immoral to tell all students they can go to college, then crush their dreams by failing half of them. But the problem has deeper effects than hurt feelings: the 54% graduation rate means that around 46% of all money used to finance college tuition results in no degree. Which means that financially speaking, the spectacularly high dropout rate boils down to a spectacularly bad investment.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Musical Interlude: Earth, Wind, and Fire
For those of you going out to party tonight, here's a tune to get you going! Let's Groove!
Happy Birthday, Dear Newton
But before I go, let me draw your attention to an article by Olivia Judson, a science writer for the NYT (and the sister of my niece Amanda's boyfriend Nicholas). She tells us that Dec. 25 is also the birthday of Isaac Newton, perhaps the greatest scientist/thinker ever. And she gives us this jingle to sing this week:
On the tenth day of Newton, My true love gave to me, Ten drops of genius, Nine silver
coins, Eight circling planets, Seven shades of liight, Six counterfeiters, Cal-Cu-Lus! Four telescopes, Three Laws of Motion, Two awful feuds, And the discovery of gravity!
So we lift a cup of cheer to the great Newton!!
Ps. I once preached a sermon where I compared Newton (the scientific genius) to apostle Paul (the spiritual genius) and I was going to link you to it, but I'll be doggone if I can find it. When I do find it, I'll let you know. Until then, here's another sermon that I now dedicate to the great Christian Isaac Newton, on the false choice that some thinkers pose between scientific and religious faith (you can actually have both!).
On the tenth day of Newton, My true love gave to me, Ten drops of genius, Nine silver
coins, Eight circling planets, Seven shades of liight, Six counterfeiters, Cal-Cu-Lus! Four telescopes, Three Laws of Motion, Two awful feuds, And the discovery of gravity!
So we lift a cup of cheer to the great Newton!!
Ps. I once preached a sermon where I compared Newton (the scientific genius) to apostle Paul (the spiritual genius) and I was going to link you to it, but I'll be doggone if I can find it. When I do find it, I'll let you know. Until then, here's another sermon that I now dedicate to the great Christian Isaac Newton, on the false choice that some thinkers pose between scientific and religious faith (you can actually have both!).
Off to Pennsylvania
We're off to visit family in the north, so please say a prayer for us as we travel today and tomorrow. I'll be able to continue blogging occasionally through this next week. So we'll be in touch.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Returns to Russia
From the vast steppes of Russia comes this 'good news' on Christmas:
By the time of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, there were nearly 600 newspapers and magazines throughout Russia devoted to Orthodox subjects. They were all shut down by the Soviet regime by 1918.
Today, in a country that was officially atheist about two decades ago, there are again hundreds of newspapers, magazines and newsletters covering the world’s largest Orthodox church. There are about 3,500 Russian Orthodox Web sites, and some priests are even blogging.
The Russian Orthodox media, like the church itself, have not always fallen into step with the Kremlin line. The Moscow Patriarchate, its official newspaper and most Orthodox media have addressed the war with Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia as a tragic misunderstanding between two countries that share an Orthodox Christian heritage.
After 70 years of state-imposed atheism and 20 years that have run the gamut from glasnost to post-Soviet chaos to a revival of Russian pride, Russians have increasingly embraced their Orthodox roots.
From a conservative political perspective, it is always good to have a non-governmental locus of power and independent opinion in a country like Russia, let alone one that stresses the Christian themes of love, peace, and justice. That is genuinely new and good. Thanks be to God.
By the time of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, there were nearly 600 newspapers and magazines throughout Russia devoted to Orthodox subjects. They were all shut down by the Soviet regime by 1918.
Today, in a country that was officially atheist about two decades ago, there are again hundreds of newspapers, magazines and newsletters covering the world’s largest Orthodox church. There are about 3,500 Russian Orthodox Web sites, and some priests are even blogging.
The Russian Orthodox media, like the church itself, have not always fallen into step with the Kremlin line. The Moscow Patriarchate, its official newspaper and most Orthodox media have addressed the war with Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia as a tragic misunderstanding between two countries that share an Orthodox Christian heritage.
After 70 years of state-imposed atheism and 20 years that have run the gamut from glasnost to post-Soviet chaos to a revival of Russian pride, Russians have increasingly embraced their Orthodox roots.
From a conservative political perspective, it is always good to have a non-governmental locus of power and independent opinion in a country like Russia, let alone one that stresses the Christian themes of love, peace, and justice. That is genuinely new and good. Thanks be to God.
The Vast Santa Conspiracy
How far will the top echelons of our elite go to fool our innocent children into believing in a gift-giving lumberjack who flies?
Just how deep does this conspiracy go?
On the local Denver news they just showed us the "NORAD Santa Tracker". Using the government's top spy technology, they have determined that "Santa" is apparently somewhere over Winnipeg right now.
Yes, my friends, even NORAD is in on this conspiracy.
Can one doubt that Cheney must somehow be mixed up in this?
Merry Christmas!!
Just how deep does this conspiracy go?
On the local Denver news they just showed us the "NORAD Santa Tracker". Using the government's top spy technology, they have determined that "Santa" is apparently somewhere over Winnipeg right now.
Yes, my friends, even NORAD is in on this conspiracy.
Can one doubt that Cheney must somehow be mixed up in this?
Merry Christmas!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Musical Interlude: Michael Card 2
In honor of the new-born King, a beautiful song for Christmas Eve by Michael Card: Joy in the Journey.
G.M. Is Us
Thomas Friedman of the NYT has a vision of what the U.S. is, and what it could be.
For all these reasons, our present crisis is not just a financial meltdown crying out for a cash injection. We are in much deeper trouble. In fact, we as a country have become General Motors — as a result of our national drift. Look in the mirror: G.M. is us.
That’s why we don’t just need a bailout. We need a reboot. We need a build out. We need a buildup. We need a national makeover. That is why the next few months are among the most important in U.S. history. Because of the financial crisis, Barack Obama has the bipartisan support to spend $1 trillion in stimulus. But we must make certain that every bailout dollar, which we’re borrowing from our kids’ future, is spent wisely.
It has to go into training teachers, educating scientists and engineers, paying for research and building the most productivity-enhancing infrastructure — without building white elephants. Generally, I’d like to see fewer government dollars shoveled out and more creative tax incentives to stimulate the private sector to catalyze new industries and new markets. If we allow this money to be spent on pork, it will be the end of us.
I have an idea: let Friedman read this column at the Inauguration, as the 'Inaugural Prophet.'
For all these reasons, our present crisis is not just a financial meltdown crying out for a cash injection. We are in much deeper trouble. In fact, we as a country have become General Motors — as a result of our national drift. Look in the mirror: G.M. is us.
That’s why we don’t just need a bailout. We need a reboot. We need a build out. We need a buildup. We need a national makeover. That is why the next few months are among the most important in U.S. history. Because of the financial crisis, Barack Obama has the bipartisan support to spend $1 trillion in stimulus. But we must make certain that every bailout dollar, which we’re borrowing from our kids’ future, is spent wisely.
It has to go into training teachers, educating scientists and engineers, paying for research and building the most productivity-enhancing infrastructure — without building white elephants. Generally, I’d like to see fewer government dollars shoveled out and more creative tax incentives to stimulate the private sector to catalyze new industries and new markets. If we allow this money to be spent on pork, it will be the end of us.
I have an idea: let Friedman read this column at the Inauguration, as the 'Inaugural Prophet.'
Fading Star
A new poll yesterday showed Caroline Kennedy with 33% support, while Andrew Cuomo has 29% support. As himself a certain dynast as well as a practicing politician (State Attorney General), the momentum may be shifting in Cuomo's favor. Or someone else we don't know about. Caroline Kennedy's star seems to be fading.
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