Colbert v Oreilly

This was funny, with the intent not to be! Oreilly invited Stephan Colbert for an interview, which is pretty interesting since on Colbert Report, he basically mocks Oreilly on his show daily. This was great to watch, Colbert basically even burned him on his own show! But it showed how different types of reporting there is out there. Television is one of the main sources for people to retrieve information. The media has so much controll over people's life, and no one even realizes that. If it doesnt get shown on television, or written about in a newspaper or online, then people dont get correctly inform. The media, being a newscast/report or whatnot, has major influence on our lives. This interview, showed how vastly different media can portray anything. For instance, it is easy to see now how viewers of Oreilly factor have different political orientations that those nightly viewers of the Colbery Report.

Oreilly, Bush, and Jesus

Religion will somehow always find its way into politics as long as people allow it too. O reilly and the Fox news have reported on how Bush is some how a God send. He is the leader of the USA and the republican party, the party that believers are apart of. All the "nonbelievers" must be other political parties. News reports such as the Oreilly factor have created the sense that Bush is simply a religious man, and if you were religious too, you would be behind Bush, other wise you must be secular and therefore an athiests! I think the theory that Oreilly promotes is unfair to those Christians who happen to be Democrats or independents, etc. I would honestly like to know when Jesus decided to join the republican political party. I understand that there might always be a hint of bias in journalism, but Oreilly's interview shown here, is obviously biased. Relying on media like this, there is no wonder why the religious right is so powerfull and growing.

Christopher Hitchens and Al Sharpton have a political conversaion after a question is asked about how come after so much demise, is religion growing? The question asker, says how his brother in law is a US Airforce Chaplain. Hitchens actually makes a good point i never thought about. He says the government should not employ chaplians. I never actually pondered that thought before. but he argued that the government should not pay for religous guidance because that impedes religion into government.
However, Al Sharpton didnt really answer the question well. After Hitchen's goes on again, he says how no religion has ever answered the question of "why". Why has all this/etc happen? I think Hitchens gives ingenious answers. He honestly opened my eyes to this topic, and i never would have thought of some in the particular way. His book, "God isnt Great" will probably worth a look!

Teddy Bear Muhammad

In November, a British teacher was convicted in a Sudanese court for insulting Islam. The teacher allowed children to name a teddy bear Muhammad. The Islamic world, and the Sudanese government lashed out at this because they said it defamed the name of Muhammad, the holy prophet. Gillian Gibson, the teacher, claimed it was not to insult, and that she saw no harm in it since many men of the faith have that name. The courts sentenced her to 15 days in court, and then deportation. Which is alot less then the 40 lashes the court originaly sought to get.

The reaction to this seems to be ridiculous. I understand that Muslims take the name of the prophet meaningful, but where is there real harm in children naming a toy Muhammad? After all, Gibson made a good point, many men are named Muhammad, but that is not taken as an insult. The Sudanese government should not be so concernced with the name of a child's toy, and concentrate on the real problems that country has, perhaps like issues in Darfur! I just think the Islamic groups and governments have taken things way out of proportion. You would not see a democratic, primarily Christian, country imprison someone because they name a doll Jesus!

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3931711

Bush, Religion, and politics

As i was searching for Religion and politic type of videos, i thought this one was interesting. This video of President Bush, talking about politics, and relating war on terrorism, all with references to religion. listening to this, i wonder, is Bush one of the main reasons that the seperation between church and state is vanishing? In this video, he comes across as a preacher, not a leader of the free world. Bushs wars are basically based off of his christian/democratic fundalmentalism.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden was discussing about the American Gospel. And how there is a mischaraterization about the connection of religion in accordance to civil rights and the constitution. He explains how its not just his specific beliefs, and he does not have a problem to seperate his religious beliefs and his role as a President. He thinks civil rights are from God? But he said he will fully be able to protect all religions, athiests, etc. This clip is actually kind of confusing to me. I dont think Fora.tv seems to be a very relaible place for the information.

One more Time

SO i decided, to talk about religion in school one more time! I guess its just one of those topics that bothers me alot. Ive noticed that the media doesn't tend to report on this issue that much at all. The religious right is continuously trying to push religion and God back into public schools, and people dont realize this, and that they are coming close to suceeding. I dont understand why no one in the media is outing this problem. Maybe it wont be something to fear if more people were aware of this bombardment.

Bush to the right the right, right right right!

When the 2004 election with the incumbant president ended with another "victory" for Bush, it was more along the lines of another victory for the Religious Right. This gave Bush another 4 years open the door for religion in the walls of the United States government. I really think it is a shame that the citizens of america have just rolled over and allowed the NeoCon Christians to take over the government. The 2008 election will mostly end this, but then it might just be causing the country to be going in a fast pendalum swing between neoconservatives and liberals. it might even cause more of a divide in America between Right and Left, and BLue and Red States

As i have mentioned before, i am afraid that the religious right will have a take over again. This terrifies me! Looking at the polls though however, it does not seem very confident that this will happen!! yay! America has finally woken up! and is finally realizing that GOD can not be President! That means God can not be the factors that a President will use to determine policy. I find it so interesting how Bush always claims to be so Christian, yet, the things that have happened during his "reign" are very diabolical!

I think its time to say Bye Bye to the Devil!

A debate at home

So i was Watching the news the other night with my family and my boyfriend. I believe it was on CBS and it was a report about the protestors who are trying to get rid of the "DONT ASK, DONT TELL" policy in the United States Military. It showed Speeches of former military commanders, and how over 12,000 people have been kicked out because oftheir sexuality.

This started a debate. Me and My sister strongly agreed with what ws being said and to get rid of that policy. however, my mom and boyfriend did not. My boyfriend happens to be a Sargent in the Army, and he has a gay brother. He is not against homosexuals at all, he just says it would be easier in the Army if you do not allow homosexuals, because the other guys/girls would not be comfortable with it and it is alot more easier to say no to one, then to change 30,000. I just think this issue is becoming more than it should be. I dont see why gays cant be in the army. They should have an equal right to serve their country, to get money for education, and health benifits.

Now I cant decide what part of the class this cartoon might fit with? Actually i think all! People wont allow gay marraige cause of their religious views , and the media is making it more possible for the country to see protests against and for this. Why is gay marriage such a controvesy? Why is Abortion such a controversy? First off, gay marriage is two peoples personal feelings for eachother. Them deciding to spend the rest of their life together, just like any other man and woman couple do. Why is it ok for the government to regulate who gets to legally declare love? I am a straight girl, in a relationship, in which i fully tend to get married one day. And i know i would be mad if there were laws telling me i couldnt marry the person i love because its against religious views. Also, if it is my body, why is it ok to allow lawmakers to propose laws based on THEIR religion? I think these are perfect examples of why religion needs to not be in government issues and lawmaking.

The Lesser Evil

As the 2008 elections come closer, as a Democrat, i am kind of scared that the Religious Right will continue again and have a candidate they support to be the Republican 2008 candidate. After looking at some research and reports, i think the lesser of all the republican evils will be Rudy Guilianni. Rudy Guilianni is actually pretty moderate, and is not really that bad of a candidate. However, as to the left depicts, the Religious Right will NOT let him become the candidate. They will try their hardest to not allow him to get the votes. After all, him supporting abortion, he must be working for the Devil! Oh no, wait, he doesn't really work for Bush!

A little more scandal

SO I couldn't resist to post this picture to go with all of the insight i left earlier about the Catholic Church Sex Scandal. I think this cartoon says it all almost though. Ive read how the American government has helped to cover it up, and how the Vatican is trying to bend over backwards to go with the US right now. The scandals however, will not be forgiven just like that, and having Uncle Sam actually in the confessional is an interesting idea.

Prayer in school

I have been reading a bit of articles related to Prayer in school. and I dont see why they would want to re introduce prayer to school. Why are people fighting so hard to get prayer back into school? prayer in school only targets Christians and leaves all other religions or athiests as outcasts. That is not suitable environment for a school.

Oh China-mas Tree

THe Christmas checklist is more and more true with all these toy recalls because of things made in China. Maybe this problem wouldnt be happening if companies wouldnt be outsourcing to China for cheap labor to make out childrens' toys to put under christmas trees! Our companies need to bring our labor back to America. And have America made products. It would employ OUR people. and possibly be safer. hmm great medicine to improve our economy i think.

Muhammed the Cartoon

The Islamic world does not believe in putting their prophet of Allah in any form except spiritual and in words. No illustration statues etc. This would lead to idol worship. But since the Muslim religion is so private, a danish journalist, decided to hire 12 artists to depict Muhammed in cartoon form. This was extremely controversial. An out break of threats came about, and the artists were in danger.

I think this is completely wrong. Why cant people depict Muhammed? They Depict Jesus all the time. I think that Muslims over reacted to this situation and needed to just get over it. If you cant handle ridicule but can ridicule others' religion that is not right .

The Mockery of the Religious RIght and how the world views them is continuously growing. This cartoon is showing heirarchy and the political pyramid that GOP candidates are climbing to get the blessing from the Religious Right. It is completely discrediting the way our political system works having these "Godly People"

In this cartoon, its interesting to see that Mitt is the one boxing up Muslims, wait American Muslims. He is consealing them in a container saying there religion is the problem! Yet his religion is one of the most critized ones out there. Thats probably why, a fellow christian is trying to box HIM up, and ship him and the Muslims out. Maybe its not the Muslims that are the problem at all, maybe its these Chrsitians that keep thinking, there way or get boxed away!

Rumsfield the Muslim

At first when i saw this cartoon i wasnt sure if it was really blaming the Muslims in part, or just the Admistration employees. Yes there are many Muslims with Anti-American sentiments. But i do not blame that at all. Like this cartoon suggests, Rumsfeld must be a muslim then if muslims are the only reason for anti- american feelings. Its interesting to see that the guy who suggests that is reading a paper with the headlines that refers to the Abu Ghraib scandal. The Scandal in which is the treatment of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib by American troops. But are Muslims really responsible for Anti-American feelings? How? Wouldnt Americans be Anti-middle Easterners if a country like Iraq or Iran invaded in the name to create a theocracy? I believe we would be. Yes fundamentalist Muslims existed before American intervention in the Middle East in the 21st century, but it is no big suprise that the level has risen since America decided to invade the region and FORCE democracy upon them! Donald Rumsfield Being a Muslim and blaming him far Anti-American feelings is not so far fetched, well except the actual Islamic religious part!

TBN

TBN is the leading Televangelist network. The network allows preachers to come on and preach and ask for monetary contributions in order to listen to prayers and to "pimp" out faith. The network though is increasingly becoming controversial. What are these people using all this money for? and Why do they always need to be asking for more and more?

Faces of the Lord? Nah, i think these are faces of evil scammers instead. Even After the gay scandal, people still follow the Crouch's. These people preach that God will only listen to prayers if you send them money. well im broke, why cant i go on tv and tell people god will listen to them if they send me money?! Because its something called a soul, and these two who live in the luxury of multi billionair lifestyles, dont have one. The problem is because these so called shows on TBN and preachers are a "church" , the government can not really get involved. and although i am all for seperation , i think the government or some entity needs to out these frauds. and end televangelism which somewhat contributes to the Religious Right.