Daily Topics - Wednesday February 2nd, 2011
By shawnt56
Truthout is proud to bring you an exclusive series from America's No. 1 progressive radio host, Thom Hartmann. We'll be publishing weekly installments, "Rebooting the American Dream."
Hour One: If you're not "Big Business"...you're screwed!
Hour Two: Why shouldn't churches pay taxes just like other businesses? Attorney, Erik Stanley-Alliance Defense Fund - www.alliancedefensefund.org
Hour Three: Latest from the streets of Cairo - Journalist Rebecca Fox - www.facebook.com/rebecca.fox1
Comments
#2
I recall that American military "aid" to foreign countries is not to be used against their own populations. The US has gotten around this in the past by sending the "aid" to Israel, who would then ship the weapons on to the intended destination. Indonesia was one such recipient. Israel also uses US military equipment against its own people, but excuses it because Palestinians are not considered to be "their own" people. I think that Palestinians are not even considered to be people - Golda Meir once said, "there is no such thing as a Palestinian." Noam Chomsky points out that Palestinians have negative rights.
The Middle East is a cauldron; the fire is on the inside as well as the outside.
#3
Churches often rent out their main hall, which means they get revenue for non-religious functions.
#4
Groundhog Day is based on a disagreement over when the seasons officially change. Note that 6 weeks after Feb. 2nd is approximately the vernal equinox, which is when Americans think spring starts. The Chinese calendar starts the year around now (variation is due to having a sort of leap month), because they think the seasons should be divided at the mid-points between equinoxes and solstices. The Chinese view makes sense if you want to call summer the time when the sun is highest in the sky. In the American view, the sun is, on average, as high in spring as in summer, and as low in autumn as in winter.
#5
February 15 is considered the hump day for our temperatures to rise toward Spring. There will still be cold days, icy and snowy days but the date gives hope to survival of winter.
#6
If a religious church or temple is preaching politics, they should be taxed. Religions seem to be lightning rods for the spewing of hatred.
#7
From Wikipedia's article on Ichthys: "A less commonly cited use of fish in Christ's life may be found in the words of Matthew 17:24-27, in which, upon being asked if his Teacher does not pay the temple (two-drachma) tax, Simon Peter answers, "Yes." Christ tells Peter to go to the water and cast a line. He says that a coin sufficient for the tax will be found in the fish's mouth. Peter does as told and finds the coin."
#8
It seems The Crusades came up quite a few times today. In 1995 Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) and documentary filmmaker Alan Ereira made a historical documentary series called Crusades for the BBC. It is entertaining, informative and of course not without it's own critics. Might be a good starting point for anyone that is interested.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
At Mondragon - both the mountain and the cooperative city - in Spain (written about in "Threshold" book)
Mueller's favorite place to pray (written about in "Prophet's Way"), and the roof of the room where the Last Supper is reputed to have happened.
From Screwed:
"I think many of us recognize that for all but the wealthiest, life in America is getting increasingly hard. Screwed explores why, showing how this is no accidental process, but rather the product of conscious political choices, choices we can change with enough courage and commitment. Like all of Thom’s great work, it helps show us the way forward."
From Screwed:
"Thom Hartmann’s book explains in simple language and with concrete research the details of the Neo-con’s war against the American middle class. It proves what many have intuited and serves to remind us that without a healthy, employed, and vital middle class, America is no more than the richest Third World country on the planet."
From Unequal Protection, 2nd Edition:
"Hartmann combines a remarkable piece of historical research with a brilliant literary style to tell the grand story of corporate corruption and its consequences for society with the force and readability of a great novel."
PRAY: We Believe
By Dom Helder Camara
I will not believe in the law of the strongest,
In the language of guns,
In the power of the powerful.
I want to believe in the right of all,
In the open hand,
In the strength of the non-violent.
I will not believe in race or riches.
In privileges,
In the established order.
I want to believe that all human beings
Are human beings
And that the order of force and of injustice
Is a disorder.
I will not believe that I don't have to concern myself
With what happens far from here.
I want to believe that the whole world
Is my home, the field that I sow,
And that all reap what all have sown.
I will not believe that I can combat oppression out there
If I tolerate injustice here.
I want to believe that what is right
Is the same here and there
And that I will not be free
While even one human being is excluded.
I will not believe that war and hunger are inevitable
And that peace is inaccessible.
I want to believe in the love of bare hands,
In peace on earth.
I will not believe that any effort is in vain.
I will not believe that the dream of human beings
Continues being only a dream
And that death is the end.
But I dare to believe in the dream of God:
A new heaven, a new earth
Where justice reigns.