No, Jesus did not support guns just because he told them to take a sword.

The swords weren't for self-defense. Scripture says specifically that he told them that to fulfill a prophecy that he be numbered with the transgressors:

"If you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me.” - Luke 22:36-37

It says right there that the reason for him saying that was so the Scripture would be fulfilled that he be numbered with the transgressors. NOT for self-defense against the Roman army.

"The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied" Luke 22:38

Two swords are "enough" - so obviously they weren't for self-defense. In fact, they tried to USE them for self-defense, and he REBUKED them:

'When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.' - Luke 22:49-51

And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." - Matthew 26:52

I find it very strange when I hear American Conservatives make this claim, Because from the point of view of Christianity, the idea that Jesus wanted them to FIGHT the Romans when they came to arrest him as opposed to giving himself to be crucified actually sounds like blasphemy.

Some thoughts on Sharia

Newt Gingrich just said that American Muslims should be asked if they believe in Sharia Law, and they should be kicked out of the country if they say "yes."

Someone should ask Newt Gingrich if he knows what Sharia Law IS - because he obviously doesn't. It's like asking a Christian if he believes in the Bible. He will say "yes." But that doesn't mean that he believes in stoning someone to death for gathering sticks on a Saturday, even though that's in the Torah. Nor does it mean that he believes the Ten Commandment should govern American law.

Sharia is the religious code of the Quran. Just as Christians all claim to believe the Bible, but disagree on what the Bible means and how it is applied, there is no single understanding of Sharia in Islam. Different Muslims disagree on what the Quran means and how it is applied, just as Christians disagree about the Bible.

However, some Muslim fundamentalists do believe that there interpretation of Sharia should govern secular law. And such an idea would violate the 1st Amendment, and go against American secular values. But most American Muslims do not favor that. Part of the reason they came to the United States was BECAUSE of its secular values. Because they don't WANT the Quran to govern secular law.

But isn't it odd is American Conservative Christian Fundamentalists - like Newt Gingrich - are so loudly critical of Sharia when they believe that the Bible - a religious text - should govern secular law? That is PRECISELY the same thing the extreme fundamentalist Muslims want with Sharia. And i every bit as much a violation of the 1st Amendment.

http://twitter.com/ignatzz

Should anybody still check this blog, I am now tweeting my little head off at http://twitter.com/ignatzz

Why are we so SURPRISED?

All this outrage over AIGs bonuses. People are FURIOUS at the behaviour, the greed, the theft, and the brazenness of these corporations.

Where was it before?


June 29, 2008

Firms Owe Billions In Unpaid Payroll Taxes
By REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 1.6 million U.S. businesses owe the Internal Revenue Service more than $58 billion in unpaid taxes for Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance, a government watchdog agency said on Tuesday.

Did anybody seem to mind?




January 5, 2007:

Contractor Fraud Unchecked In Iraq
Jan. 5, 2007
by Christine Lagorio

(CBS) The U.S. has currently spent at least $437 billion on the Iraq war, according to the Congressional Research Service. An estimated $100 billion will be spent in 2007. Much of that money is going to 60,000 civilian contractors involved in reconstruction and providing services to the troops.

But recently, the Pentagon admitted it has a hard time accounting for how billions of your tax dollars are being spent and the billions that may be lost to contractor waste, fraud and abuse.

Did anybody seem to mind?

If you want to know why AIG seems completely surprised that people object to their ripping off millions from the taxpayers - it's because corporations have been doing it for YEARS. Openly. And it was considered completely OK. In fact, it was lauded and it was defended as the best way of doing business.

My New Deal

Some Republicans are complaining that they don't support the stimulus package, but will have to pay for it anyway.

So here's the deal:

The $787 billion stimulus works about to about $2,623 per American citizen. Yes, that's a lot of money and if you don't support the bill, I agree, you should get that back. Agreed?

Okay. I don't support the $5.7 trillion in new debt racked up by the Republicans for a war and tax cuts for the rich. That works out to $19,000 per citizen. So, the Republicans can write me a check for $16,377 and we'll call it even.

Ok.

This is from the Onion News Network, and must be posted.