4 Observations from the 2011 MTV VMA's And What They Teach Us About Pop Culture

Here is an interesting article from http://www.thesource4ym.com/ about the 2011 MTV VMA's .This follows this post  reviewing some of the movies that came out over the past weekend and  THIS POST about some movies that have been released over the past few years that you might have missed!  This all  follows this post about guidelines to chosing good movies to watch yourself!



4 Observations from the 2011 MTV VMA's



And What They Teach Us About Pop Culture

An article from Jonathan McKee and David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com




The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards have come and gone. If you watched the annual show, you caught a glimpse of pop culture at its grittiest. But what do we do with those observations? How do they impact us as we raise and lead teenagers?



We’re glad you asked.



The Moments of Culture

Our Youth Culture Window articles have covered the MTV Video Music Awards before; we’ve dissected this annual show every year for the last several years. This show generally serves as a good reference point for the biggest moments in culture. In fact, this particular TV show often produces the biggest moments in culture! Earlier this week, Yahoo’s Music Blog did a pretty good job looking back over the past VMAs and chronicling The Wackiest VMA Moments Ever. They make the point that we’ve made for years: it’s not about “who-wins-what.” It’s about “who-does/says-what.” (But, just in case you want to know which artist took home which Moonman at the 2011 VMAs, you can find them here.)



This year’s live show was held in Los Angeles and was “sort of” hosted by Kevin Hart, standup comedian and small time actor (Fools Gold, Death at a Funeral). We say “sort of” because he was introduced as host, did an opening monologue (that BOMBED!), and then was only seen in a few short funny clips throughout the commercial breaks.



Strange.



We gotta say, for the most part – and we stress “for the most part” – this was one of the tamer VMAs in recent history. (We’ll elaborate on the few exceptions later.) Also setting this awards show apart from the past were the coolest live performances in recent memory. Lady Gaga opened the show with a strong performance of her hit song, You and I (No question, Gaga is a very talented performer). Taking the stage throughout the remainder of the night would be Pit Bull, Adele, Kanye West and Jay Z, Beyoncé, and Young the Giant. Chris Brown also did a cool dance medley, and Bruno Mars sang a tribute to the recently deceased Amy Winehouse. Finally, Lil Wayne performed at the show’s end. (Umm…he’s one of the exceptions we just mentioned.)



All in all, MTV seemed to place the emphasis on – wait for it – music. Yeah, we were surprised, too. As we watched this year’s music awards show that actually centered on music, we observed four inescapable realities about youth culture. Here they are:



1. Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!

The F-bomb made its appearance during Lady Gaga’s show opener. Dressed as her male alter ego Joe Calderone, she/he spewed expletives like the geysers of Yellowstone. In the first two minutes of the show, the F word was bleeped four times. Throughout her later appearances in the show – all as Calerdone – she continued using course language.



You’ve probably guessed that she’s one of the exceptions, too.



For example, during Gaga’s introduction of Britney Spears for The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, she admitted that posters of Spears hanging on her bedroom walls as a teenager caused her to sexually touch herself. She then commanded the crowd: “Everybody stand the f--k up!” Later, during her reception of Best Female Video Award for Born This Way, she referenced her other award for the same song, Best Video With a Message. She nonchalantly claimed, “Every video…has a f--king message.”



But, she was only getting us warmed up for Lil Wayne.



When the tattooed rapper finally took the stage to close the show, he started off by singing a low-key, highly auto-toned version of How to Love. While it was difficult to discern the heavily automated vocals in this song, it was absolutely impossible to discern any lyrics of his next song because of the bleeping.



Lil Wayne started his second number by ripping off his shirt…and every semblance of human decency. He was bleeped for vulgarity (on average) once every three seconds. He was literally bleeped over 20 times in the first minute!



It was ridiculous, and quite honestly, silly. Perhaps the patrons sitting in the arena got a show; for the millions watching via cable TV, it just sounded like we were having continual technical difficulties.



These two were the major offenders for the night, as well as Tyler the Creator, who dropped some heavy language while accepting his award for Best New Artist. All in all, this year’s awards show proves just how important satellite delay and the bleep button truly are.



2. “I’d Like to Thank God”

Throughout the night we witnessed something we see a lot in these award shows, four of the winning artists thanked God for their award nomination and reception. Britney Spears struck first with a win in the Best Pop Video category for her hyper-sexualized Till the World Ends. After taking the mic, she said, “First, I’d like to thank God for blessing me so much.”



She wouldn’t be the last to drag the Almighty into the debacle.



Nicki Minaj (for Super Bass) followed suit in her speech for Best Hip Hop Video (a racy video where she and her dancers give lap dances of sort to male dancers), first with an excited, “Ohhhh myyyy Goooooodddddddd!” quickly followed by a blurted-out, “I wanna thank God.” She also thanked Lil Wayne, or as she calls him, “the best rapper alive.”



When Kanye West won an award for his collaborative efforts with Katy Perry on E.T. (a song many of you heard Jonathan’s 13-year-old daughter Ashley testify about in one of our recent parenting clips), he didn’t hesitate to begin his thank you speech with a confident, “Thank you to God.” Part of his lyrics for that song goes like this:Tell me what’s next

Alien sex

I want to disrobe you

Then I’m a probe you…



But Justin Bieber went several steps further in his public gratitude of God when his U Smile won Best Male Video. He began his speech by saying, “I just want to say thank you so much, not only to God, but to Jesus, because, you know, I wouldn’t be here without Him. He’s really blessed me. He’s put me in this position. So I wanna say thank you so much. Also, I wanna say thank you to all the other nominees. They’re amazing!”



In case you didn’t know it, he was talking about Bruno Mars (Grenade), Cee Lo Green (F—k You), Eminem (Love the Way You Lie), and Kanye West (All of the Lights). Bieber concluded his speech by saying, “I’m a true fan of all them, so I want to share this award with all them. You guys are amazing.”



Are these frequent nods to God surprising in a nation where only 1.6% of people are atheists? Face it; we live in a country where people don’t find it hypocritical to give God a polite nod for performances that are overtly promiscuous, hyper-sexualized, or profanity-laden. While the prolific use of God’s name might open doors to spiritual conversations, it also greatly hinders the important task of teaching young people what holiness looks like in life.



It’d be great if celebrities would get their theology correct.



3. Coming Attractions

MTV has never wasted an opportunity to self-promote. Each year, a running subtitle to this awards show could be, “Look at all the new shows we’re launching this season.” This year was no different. Here are five shows that MTV is launching immediately.



I Just Want My Pants Back. This show is probably the coarsest, most vile show MTV has ever aired. That’s saying a lot, given that MTV is known for A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila and Skins. But we can back up that description: in the first five seconds of the show, which was aired immediately following the VMAs, the main character pops a masturbation joke. The next scene shows him meeting a female friend in a bar where the two of them talk about his current “dry spell.” In other words, it’s been six weeks since he last had sex. She claims he’s a “born again virgin.” Later scenes show sex depicted, etc. MTV promised only one airing of this episode, but you can look for the series again, full time, in 2012. Can’t wait….



Ridiculousness. This show, hosted by Rob Dyrdek, is very much in line with Comedy Central’s Tosh.O with Daniel Tosh, and E!’s The Soup with Joel McHale. A guy stands up, plays videos from the internet, and cracks some jokes. It airs Monday, August 29th, at 10pm EST.



New Season of Jersey Shore. If you don’t know what this show is about, let us sum it up for you: hair gel and sex. Lots of hair gel and sex! This show airs on Thursday nights at 10pm EST.



The Real World (San Diego). This is another TV show for which simple descriptions suffice. “Mansion + a dozen twenty-somethings (hetero and homosexual) + partying = big ratings for MTV.” The constant commercial for this show featured a young girl who mentioned that she enjoys “flashing her boobs.” This “Real Word” series is older than every single teenager in your youth ministry that will watch it. The formula is still working. Sad.



Death Valley. This show puts you in a police car with the highly trained officers tasked with arresting and/or killing the vampires, zombies, and werewolves that run loose in the San Fernando Valley. This comedy premiers August 29th, at 10:30pm EST, following Ridiculousness.



But new TV shows weren’t the only forms of visual creativity released this year; several companies turned heads with the debut of brand new commercials for their products. Here are a few that caught our eye.



Pacsun said, “Dress irresponsibly.” This commercial, featuring music by Michael Buble, shows girls cutting their pants off dangerously close to their booties. It later shows the same girls taking off their tops during a car ride…top down, of course. It ends with “dress irresponsibly” written across the screen as a girl falls into her bed.



Plan B said, “Here’s emergency contraception.” This morning-after pill was touted as the reason girls can “be calm” even when they wake up the next morning after their birth control fails. After all, “Sometimes, the unexpected happens.”



I’m sorry. When was pre-marital sex “unexpected”?



These commercials teach subtle, but dangerous, messages to teenagers. Most of these TV shows will just come right out with their filth. Undoubtedly, several of these shows will be featured in upcoming Youth Culture Window articles. We’ll wade through this junk, so you don’t have to.



4. Move Over Elvis – Hip Hop is King

If the 2011 VMAs proved anything, it’s that hip hop still rules the masses. Many of you recall us noting this genre’s dominance over the years. Not only does MTV have a special category restricted to hip hop, but looking at winners from the other categories easily shows how big a factor this genre is in pop culture. Best New Artist was taken by Tyler, the Creator, a hip hop upstart. Best Choreography was snagged by Beyoncé, a hip hop icon. Best Collaboration was half pop and half hip hop, as was Best SFX (for the same song).



In fact, hip hop is so big, members of the indie pop band Foster the People noted during the pre-show that they were one of just a few rock bands there that night. They also joked that their next album probably should include some hip hop elements so their chances of winning are improved.



On the surface, this final observation doesn’t carry any spiritual significance. But buried underneath the vibes of this popular genre is a buffet of profanity and degradation of women. Here is an example. Here’s another. Our biggest advice on this is to be extra leery when it comes to this genre. We don’t want to come off as picking on one certain genre, but we’ll be happy to back down when the genre provides even a handful of examples of artists who rise above the above stigma.



Making Observations…and Plans

It does little good to make observations and then refuse to incorporate them in your life. For example, if you’re driving from Texas to Nebraska and notice mountains outside the car…that little nugget of reality should lead you to pull over and ask for (better) directions! (I’m recalling a line from Dumb and Dumber about John Denver.)



The same principle is true here, as well. We need to understand how these observations impact how we lead and love teenagers. Here are two simple action plans that scream for attention based on this year’s awards show.







1.Don’t allow culture to define teenagers. Yes, this is incredibly difficult, but actually accomplishing this has huge rewards. We know they wade through a lot of junk every single day of their lives, but they don’t have to be defined by the rants of Lady Gaga, the lyrics of Lil Wayne, or the innuendos of Katy Perry. For a moment, think about what it will look like if culture defines truth for today’s teens. For a moment, think about what it will look like if culture defines right and wrong, sexual purity, relationships, and every other important aspect of life. Yeah, we shudder, too. In Acts 17:6, we’re told that the Christians of the day had a phenomenal reputation; they were known for “turning the world upside down.” They defied the pagan, sexually immoral, and sinful influences of that era and lived lives defined by God Himself. As a result of the way they lived, culture was defined by them! This could happen again. It’s just gonna take lots of work.





2.Teach the things that please God. Granted, God, and even Jesus, might get lip service in a room filled with celebrities whose net worth tabulates into the billions, but do we really think God is pleased with sex-laden lyrics? Do we think He smiles when we turn love into lust? Do we believe He approves of filthy language today when His Word clearly denounced it 2,000 years ago (Col. 3:8)? Do we genuinely think that God is happy when His Name becomes synonymous with entertainment…and raunchy entertainment at that? No! So we have to teach the truth, no matter how counter-cultural it is. In Philippians 4:8-9, the Apostle Paul outlines a terrific set of God-pleasing criteria for our lives. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”



Watching 15 minutes of this show greatly impacts how we plan on leading our personal small groups this week. Watching just 15 minutes of this show strongly encourages us to have conversations with the kids in our own homes this week!



What will these observations cause you to do?





Jonathan McKee, president of The Source for Youth Ministry, is the author of numerous books including the brand new Candid Confessions of an Imperfect Parent, Ministry By Teenagers, Connect: Real Relationships in a World of Isolation, and the award winning book Do They Run When They See You Coming? He speaks and trains at camps, conferences, and events across North America, and provides free resources for youth workers internationally on his website, TheSource4YM.com.







David R. Smith is a 15-year youth ministry veteran who helps youth workers and parents through his writing, training, and speaking. David specializes in sharing the gospel, and equipping others do the same. He co-authored his first book this year, Ministry By Teenagers. David provides free resources to anyone who works with teenagers on his website, DavidRSmith.org. David resides with his wife and son in Tampa, Florida.

The Obama-Reid-Pelosi Democrats

A very interesting post from www.hughhewitt.com about the Senate, not the House, stalling on the Budget Plan! This follows this post about Obamacare and your own Health Care at work.  This follows this post about the House GOP's communication problem and this article about  the recent news about ending the ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran  and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read the very interesting book that is shown HERE!

You can also write your two Senators about these Appropriations bills HERE!


The Obama-Reid-Pelosi Democrats

Posted by: Hugh Hewitt




The Senate has become a dead-end for the dozen appropriations bills which Congress must pass by the end of September to keep the government running.



The Democrat-controlled Senate has not produced a budget for more than two years. Not one appropriation bill passed and sent to the House this year.



The House GOP is doing their job, as this report from The Hill notes:



This year, the House has passed six of 12 bills and moved nine through the Appropriations Committee. The Senate has passed one bill through committee, for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs.



Every Republican presidential candidate should pound on the Obama-Reid-Pelosi dysfunction in the Congress. There is no excuse for the Senate's refusal to get its basic work done.



The obvious explanation is that the president and the key Democrats in Congress want another CR showdown and hopefully a government shutdown which will again divert attention from the miserable economy that their policies have brought about.



The Hill, the Post and the Examiner ought to keeping a focus on the paralysis in the Senate and distinguishing it from the House, where John Boehner and Eric Cantor have kept the business of the Congress moving.

Pew Report: 1/3 of US Muslims Support Al Qaeda, Suicide Bombs; 25% Came to US Under Bush, Obama

A very interesting post from www.debbieschlussel.com about the views of Muslims in the United States. This follows this post about keeping the Ground Zero mosque from getting federal tax dollars.  This follows this post  about Miss USA 2010 and this article about the recent news about the former ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence and prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran   and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE!

Pew Report: 1/3 of US Muslims Support Al Qaeda, Suicide Bombs; 25% Came to US Under Bush, Obama


By Debbie Schlussel



The mainstream media is hyping the latest Pew Research Center survey on Muslims in America (which is not as extensive or detailed as its 2007 predecessor, which is referenced in my analysis below, also) as showing that Muslims in America are “mainstream,” “moderate,” and “middle class,” just like you and me. But a close look at the survey (I read all 136 pages) reveals that Muslims in America (who often lie to deceive the infidels, per taqiyya) are in fact every bit as radical and extremist as I’ve diagnosed for the last couple of decades.  And that they haven’t changed much in the four years since the last survey in 2007.  I’ve used both the 2007 and 2011 surveys below, and have noted the years in parentheses, so you know where I’m getting the data for my analysis.  The survey shows stark evidence of how President Bush opened the floodgates to Muslim aliens.  Oh, and those Muslims he helped, after seeking their endorsement in his Presidential race–they are extremely liberal and support even bigger government and entitlements than we have now . . . by vast majorities.







Despite the fact that extremist Muslims leaders, including Ihsan Bagby and Ingrid Matteson, served as advisors to massage the results (in 2007 and reportedly again in 2011), the study still shows that a high number of U.S. Muslims support Al-Qaeda, deny that 9/11 was committed by Arabs, and admit that being a devout Muslim conflicts with a modern, Western lifestyle. The study also shows a disturbing number of young U.S. Muslims who support the use of homicide bombings to achieve goals. They are the future of Islam in America. And, finally, the report shows that at least one of every three Muslim immigrants (28%-40%) in America in 2007 came here during the Bush Administration, the ultimate evidence that Bush pandered to Islam and ignored 9/11. Thanks, George W. You’re a pal. And a good number more came here under Obama, with



Here are some of the results–and remember that these numbers would be even higher if all Muslims answered the survey truthfully. Remember, also, that Pew is liberal and tried to present the results in the most favorable light to Muslims, and yet the numbers still present a different picture:



* Disturbing Numbers of Muslims Support Suicide Bombings: 19% of American Muslims said suicide bombings are okay (2011). And the number jumps in other categories: 18% of foreign born Muslims said suicide bombings are generally okay. And (in 2007–figures not available in 2011) 22% of foreign born Arab Muslims said suicide bombings are okay. Yup, nearly one out of four Arab Muslims in America says it’s okay to blow you up. And those are the ones who openly said so to Pew. Again, the number is far higher in reality. In 2011, 31% of Muslims aged 18-29 said suicide bombings are okay–that’s one in three young Muslims in America, who thinks it’s okay to blow you and your families up.



* Third of U.S. Muslims Support Al-Qaeda: Despite the claims of Barack Obama and many Muslim leaders after Osama Bin Laden was killed, almost half of U.S. Muslims support Al-Qaeda. While 70% of U.S. Muslims view Al-Qaeda, which murdered 3,000 Americans on 9/11, “very unfavorably,” the other 30% view Al-Qaeda favorably, only somewhat unfavorably, or don’t know/refused to answer (which means they support Al-Qaeda). Yup, that means that 30% didn’t have too much of a problem with Al-Qaeda.



* Half of Muslims Are Muslim First, American Last, only 1/4 Are American First: 49% of U.S. Muslims said they think of themselves as Muslims first, not Americans (up from 47% in 2007). If you add the 7% who refused to answer/don’t know, it’s 56%. If you add those who said they are “both” first, it’s 74% who do not identify as American first. While 44% say they display the U.S. flag, their flag displays are just props, since only 26% of U.S. Muslims said they are American first. Among Muslims aged 18-29–the future Muslims in America–only 25% said they think of themselves as American first. 60% said they are Muslim first, 5% refused to answer (which means they are Muslim first) and 10% said “both equally” (which means they are Muslim first). Even among those Muslims who said they are American first, 15% supported suicide bombings, and 39% didn’t believe that Arabs perpetrated the 9/11 attacks. So much for being “American first.”



* Almost Half of Muslims Don’t Want to Be Americans: 28% of U.S. Muslims said that Muslims should not adopt American customs. That number jumps to 44% if you count the Muslims who said they should both adopt American customs AND remain distinct and not adopt American customs.



* 9/11 Truthers – Majority of American Muslims Don’t Believe Arabs Perpetrated 9/11 Attacks: Yes, the majority of Muslims in America are 9/11 Truthers. The 2011 survey didn’t address this question, but the 2007 survey did. 60% U.S. Muslims don’t believe Arabs committed the 9/11 attacks. (The number jumps to 78% among Arab Muslim immigrants.) So who do they think did it? The survey doesn’t address that because it would make Muslims look like the Jew-haters and America-haters that they are. But we know the drill. 8% of Muslims believe that Jews, Israel, the Mossad, the CIA, and/or the U.S. government committed the attacks. 52% wouldn’t say, which means they also believe Jews and the U.S. did it.



* More Than a 1/3 of U.S. Muslims Think Islamic Extremism is Okay: 35% of U.S. Muslims said they are not concerned about Islamic extremism around the world. 36% said there is a great deal/fair amount of extremism among U.S. Muslims. 40% said they are not concerned about Islamic extremism in the U.S.



* Bush Opened the Floodgates to Muslim Immigration Even After the 9/11 Attacks, But They Did Not Come Here b/c of Persecution: 28% of all Muslim immigrants in the U.S. in 2007 came here from 2000-2007 (2007). 40% of Muslim immigrants currently in the U.S. came here from 2000-2011. Most of that is the Bush Administration (some in the second figure from Obama, but most of it from Bush). Shukran [Thanks], George. Miss him yet? In 2007, 18% of all Muslims in the U.S. were immigrants who came here during the Bush Administration (2007). In 2011, that figure jumps to Muslim immigrants making up 25% of the U.S. Muslim population. Yup, one in every four Muslims in the U.S. came here during Bush and Obama (mostly Bush). And, contrary to the oft-made claim, only 20% of U.S. Muslim immigrants say they came here for persecution reasons and had it just fine over there. The rest came here on student visas (so, why are they still here?) and for economic opportunities, because they were sponsored by Muslim family members, etc.



* Most Muslims Never Discriminated Against in America: Despite the hype and lies of HAMAS’ CAIR Action Network and other Muslim groups, only 20% of Muslims in the U.S. say they’ve been the victim of “anti-Muslim” discrimination or that it’s a problem.



* Muslims Are NOT Wealthy Contributors to American Society: Despite the claims by Muslim propagandists and misguided left-wing Republicans like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, most Muslims in America are not wealthy and contributors of jobs and other benefits to American society. They are takers. Only 22% of U.S. Muslims make $75,000 or more per year (down from 26% in 2007), below the U.S. total population average of 28%. 45% (up from 35% in 2007) of Muslims make less than $30,000 per year, whereas only 36% of the general population is at that salary level. 40% of U.S. Muslims are unemployed and 18% are only employed part-time.



* 31% of Muslims said there is conflict with being a devout Muslim and living in a modern society. That’s scary since 18-29 year olds are the most devout group of Muslims and, therefore, the most unable to adapt to modern Western mores and customs.



* Most Muslims Not Singled Out by Airport Security. Most Muslims say they were never singled out by airport security. And therein lies the problem. They should be singled out.



* Memo to Islamo-pandering Republicans – Most Muslims are Big-Government Liberal Democrats: More evidence to stop listening to GOP Islamo-scumbag Grover Norquist a/k/a Jihad Grover. 70% of Muslims are Democrats or Democrat-leaning. Only 11% are Republican or Republican-leaning, and of those 11% (2011 survey). 71% voted for John Kerry, 14% for Bush (2007 survey). 68% support bigger government than we already have and more services, and 73% think the government should do more for the needy (2011 survey). Only 21% want smaller government, and only 17% say government can’t afford to do more for the poor (2007 survey). Yup, these are NOT Tea Partiers and definitely not conservatives. But they might be Paulnuts.



* Contrary to Islamo-propagandist Mohammed Zuhdi Jasser’s claims, most U.S. Muslims pray daily and attend mosque.  Frank Gaffney’s and Daniel Pipes’ favorite Muslim propagandist and fraud, Mohammed Zuhdi Jasser–in trying to back up his claim that most Muslims in America are peaceful–frequently claims that most American Muslims neither pray daily nor attend a mosque (where they are usually poisoned with hate).  But the survey shows his claims are bunk.  Pew’s results show that 66% of Muslims pray daily, that only 8% never pray, and that only 19% never attend mosque.

Redistricting in Los Angeles to Discourage Illegal Immigration

An urgent post from  http://redistricting.lacounty.gov about redistricting in Los Angeles to discourage illegal immigration. This follows this post about the lack of immigration enforcement in Texas. Tell candidate Rick Perry to correct this so he can be a better candidate!  This follows this post about how to Report Illegal Immigrants such as the 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso, where President Barack Obama recently bashed immigration enforcement! On a related note, you can read about Miss Kentucky Latina here, an interesting article about Jessica Alba here or another article about Salma Hayek here. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read the very interesting book shown HERE!

And Remember when contacting public officials to please be firm but respectful. Any over the top messages could result in law enforcement action against you. Just let these senators know that you are aware of what they have done and that you intend to remove them from office in the 2012 elections.


Contact the redistricting counsel of Los Angeles about their Redistricting Plan

The Board of Supervisors' noticed Public Hearing on Supervisorial Boundary Redistricting will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 6th at the County’s Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in the Board hearing room.




You can view the three plans submitted by County Supervisors as well as related plan reports at http://redistricting.lacounty.gov/ .

NOTE: Please comment in favor of Supervisor Knabe's A3 Ameded Plan

Majority Rule May Spell Islamic Tyranny

An interesting article from www.ucg.org about the new governments in the Middle East. This follows this post about hurricane Irene. This follows this post about the Sabbath in the bible. For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Majority Rule May Spell Islamic Tyranny






article by Tom Robinson





In discussing democracy, it's important to specify what is meant.



Pure democracy is simply the rule of the majority. That may sound great and even practical—unless you are in the minority and the issues concern your well-being and perhaps even your life.



A popular adage, anonymous but often misattributed to Benjamin Franklin, says in one of its forms, “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” Majority rule is, in essence, the tyranny of the majority, wherein dissenters are oppressed. At its worst, it can devolve into mob rule, a fearful circumstance that can break down into anarchy and calls for authoritarian clampdown by a single leader.



American Founding Father John Adams said: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true, in fact, and nowhere appears in history. Those passions are the same in all men, under all forms of simple government, and when unchecked, produce the same effects of fraud, violence, and cruelty” (letter to John Taylor, April 15, 1814).



With such thoughts in mind, America was founded as a republic. In a republic, representatives represent the interests of constituents in a voting assembly. When these representatives are chosen by the populace, the form of government is called a democratic republic, which is the case with the United States. Of course, some countries refer to themselves as democratic republics even if truly free elections are absent. Communist regimes are notorious for this.



Yet even a true democratic republic does not necessarily promote freedom. The forces of democracy are still at work in selecting representation. A takeoff on the humorous quote up front notes that in a republic, the flock gets to vote for which wolves vote on lunch. The question is, what do the majority support? Are they selfish, or do they care about others? This is why Adams earlier said: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (military address, Oct. 11, 1798). It is clear from other quotes that the religion he had in mind was Christianity. It certainly was not Islam, which he inveighed against severely elsewhere.



The religion of Islam has itself been an oppressive force in the Middle East. Yet ironically, it has been held in check by the totalitarian regimes of the recent past. The rise of democracy in this region where the common people are predominantly Muslim fundamentalists could spell increased imposition of sharia (Islamic law) domestically and a step up in jihad (struggle or holy war) abroad.



Consider the Palestinians. Free elections in Gaza handed the government over to Hamas, a terrorist organization devoted to wiping out the state of Israel. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.



There is great concern about Egypt, the most populous nation in the Arab world, as well as many other Muslim nations. One source reports: “Much of the Egyptian population that in recent days has rebelled against the thirty-year regime of Hosni Mubarak says that it prefers democracy to any other form of government. At the same time, however, and in an overwhelming majority, they want those who commit adultery to be stoned, thieves to have their hands cut off, and those who abandon the Muslim religion to be put to death. This is the result of a survey conducted in Egypt and in six other majority Muslim countries by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the world leader for research in this field” (Sandro Magister, “‘Democratic’ Egypt Sends Apostates to Their Death,” chiesa.expressonline.it, Feb. 3, 2011).



According to the survey, this is true of majorities in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Nigeria. Only in Turkey and Lebanon were these minority positions. But fundamentalism has made headway in Turkey, while in Lebanon the terrorist organization Hezbollah has recently achieved a dominant position in the government.



The Pew survey further stated that 54 percent of Egyptians want to end their nation’s peace treaty with Israel (“Egyptians Back Sharia Law, End of Israel Treaty, Poll Shows,” Bloomberg, April 26, 2011). And “in a runoff between modernizers and fundamentalists, 59 percent of Egyptians say that they side with the fundamentalists, against 27 percent who root for the former. . . Returning to the death penalty for those who abandon Islam, called for by 84 percent of Egyptians, it must be pointed out that those who want it are men and women, old and young, educated and uneducated, without distinction. In Jordan, the level of support for sentencing apostates to death rises all the way to 86 percent” (Magister, emphasis added).



Here’s a clear case, then, where democracy does not equate to freedom.

.

Tell Candidate Rick Perry to finish his job in Texas!!!

An urgent post from www.NumbersUSA.com about the lack of immigration enforcement in Texas. Tell candidate Rick Perry to correct this so he can be a better candidate! This follows this post  about the pro-immigration, successionist group called MEChA. This follows this post about how to Report Illegal Immigrants such as the 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso, where President Barack Obama recently bashed immigration enforcement! On a related note, you can read about Miss Kentucky Latina here, an interesting article about Jessica Alba here or another article about Salma Hayek here. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read the very interesting book shown HERE!

And Remember when contacting public officials to please be firm but respectful. Any over the top messages could result in law enforcement action against you. Just let these senators know that you are aware of what they have done and that you intend to remove them from office in the 2012 elections.


• Tell Governor, State Legislators To Pass Anti-Sanctuary Legislation in Another Special Session‏




BLOGGERS NOTE: FIRST CONTACT THE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA AND PRESSURE THEM ABOUT THIS AND THEN CONTINUE BELOW!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

http://brianleesblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/media-targets-to-defeat-dream-act.html



The Texas state legislature finished its first special session without passing SB 9, the anti- sanctuary city bill. Everyone is playing the blame game now but with Republican super majorities in both chambers, it’s clear that Republicans, not Democrats, were responsible for this defeat.  Rather than blaming each other, the governor and legislators need to focus on rectifying their mistakes (purposeful or otherwise).



Please contact Gov. Perry, House and Senate leaders and other legislators to tell them to pass SB 9 during a second special session in August.






Action for Gov. Perry



Gov. Perry made SB 9 a priority but if he had pushed harder earlier in the year, SB 9 would be law now. Gov. Perry needs to call a second special session in August and charge legislators with taking up anti-sanctuary legislation. Please call and email him with the message:



“I am disappointed that SB 9 did not pass so far this year. Please call a second special session in August to push it even harder.”



(800) 252-9600; Email form



Action for Speaker Straus



Speaker Joe Straus has long been an opponent of immigration-enforcement legislation. It’s our understanding that he assigned Committee Chairman Byron Cook the task of blocking SB 9 and other good enforcement bills (e.g., on E-Verify). Please call and email Speaker Strauss with the message:



“You are responsible for the House’s failure to clear SB 9 so you can stop playing the blame game. Your special-interest friends wanted the bill killed and you gladly obliged.






Stop listening to those who oppose any kind of immigration enforcement. Citizens want SB 9 passed in a second special session in August. Get it done when Gov. Perry calls you to action.”



(512) 463-1000; Email form



Action for Chairman Cook




Rep. Byron Cook is the Chairman of the House committee that killed all E-Verify bills this year and held back last-minute passage of SB 9. He carried out Speaker Straus’ assignment well. Please call and email him with the message:



“I hold you responsible for blocking SB 9 and other good immigration-enforcement bills this year. You work for citizens, not special interest groups.






Stop listening to those who oppose any kind of enforcement. Citizens want SB 9 passed in a second special session in August. Get it done when Gov. Perry calls you to action.



(512) 463-0730; Email form



Action for Lt. Gov. Dewhurst



While Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (leader of the Texas Senate) did not block enforcement legislation like Speaker Straus, he was not exactly a proponent either. Please call and email him with the message:



“I am disappointed that SB 9 did not pass so far this year. Please urge Gov. Perry to call a second special session in August to push it even harder. And please tell your Republican colleagues to stop listening to those who oppose any kind of immigration enforcement.”



(512) 463-0001; Email form



Action for Your Rep. and Senator



Please call and email your Rep. and Senator with the message:



“SB 9, the anti-sanctuary bill, should have passed during regular or special session. I think too many legislators were listening to special interest groups, not constituents.






Constituents like me want SB 9 passed in a second special session in August. Please get it done when Gov. Perry calls you to action.”



You can look up contact information for your legislators under these House  and Senate links. If you do not know your legislators’ names, use the House locator and Senate locator.




Numbers USA

1601 N. Kent Street

Suite 1100

Arlington, VA 22209

http://www.numbersusa.com/

Obama's Big Fail on Resetting Russia!

A very interesting post from www.americanthinker.com about Obama's failures in dealing with Russia. This follows this previous post about foreign policy in dealing with nations such as Russia. This follows this article about the recent news about the former ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence and prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran   and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE!

Obama's Big Fail on Resetting Russia


By Kim Zigfeld

Even knowing that Russia is ruled by a proud KGB who despises the USA, and even knowing that America is led by a shameless liar and coward whose "reset" policy is not worth the paper is was printed on, it is still surprising how relentlessly and aggressively Russia has pursued its anti-American foreign policy in recent days.



Russia stood alone to support mass-murdering Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad while the rest of the world condemned his latest blood orgy.  Russia even went so far as to seek to fan the flames of Arab nationalism across the region.



It invited mass-murdering North Korean dictator  Kim Jong-il for a friendly visit.



It loaned billions to mass-murdering Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez so he could buy even more weapons.



It feted the lunatic dictator of Cuba, mass-murderer Fidel Castro, with verbal laurels worthy of Gandhi or Ronald Reagan.



When the West sought to bar arms shipments to Bahrain over terrorist concerns, Russia leaped immediately into the breach.



And it ratcheted up its foreign policy initiatives to assist the mass-murdering dictator of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.



Such actions are surprising because of Russia's palpable weakness.  Though Russia's economy is not plagued by debt and has substantial reserves, the Russian stock market recently lost a stunning fifth of its value when the US market took a lesser tumble because Russia's market is fully enslaved by American demand for crude oil.  Russia does not rank in the top 130 nations of the world for life expectancy or in the top 50 for per capita GDP, where Russia is easily bettered by the likes of Lithuania, Poland, and Hungary.  Russia can ill afford its alienating, war-mongering policies, but Putin does not seem to know i.



The Putin regime's aggressive, anti-American actions are perhaps still more surprising because Russia has only recently been confronted by the brutal reality of its total failure in Libya.  There, Russia actively opposed efforts to support the grassroots pro-democracy movement and it now faces the ire of the rebels and total exclusion from the Libyan oil market.



Moreover, Russian foreign policy has been equally disastrous in its near abroad.



In Georgia, Russian imperialistic aggression has been so soundly rebuffed that not a single major nation of the world has recognized the annexation of Ossetia and Abkhazia, while political support for the Saakashvili government has dramatically increased and it is even more firmly ensconced in power than before the 2008 invasion.



In Ukraine, while Russia thought it had a pro-Moscow president in the election of Victor Yanukovich, in fact the new leader turned on Russia almost immediately, making vigorous moves towards the European Union and accusing Russia of rigging gas deals against Ukraine.  Even worse, he has launched his country on an aggressive program of energy self-sufficiency, one that will soon wipe out Russian influence.



Western attitudes towards Russia have been scathing and blunt.  One commentator, for instance, accuses Russia of having a foreign policy characterized by a "colossal extent of confusion, denial and duplicity" which "does not befit a major power that has privileges and commitments, as a country that holds the veto right at the Security Council and as a country that has a duty to preserve world peace and security."



And that is, of course, correct. Yet Russia does not appear to have learned anything at all from this repeated frustration and failure when using neo-Soviet anti-American tactics, and does not seem to fear its own weakness and vulnerability.



And the most important reason why may well be the softness and the weakness of the Obama administration's response to Russian aggression, which has no other name but appeasement.  Feeling no pressure from Washington, Putin apparently believes he is free to continue his anti-American policies without real consequences abroad other than those that the failure of the policy itself generates.  And even when Putin fails to keep anti-American maniacs in power, his efforts to do so roil the petroleum markets, and this inures directly to Russia's ben.



The strangest feature of the Obama "reset" with Russia is that it was no reset at all.  George W. Bush infamously looked into Putin's eyes, saw his soul, and pronounced him trustworthy.  He then proceeded to turn a blind eye to Putin's long litany of political murders, and even hosted a notorious Chechnya war criminal in the Oval Office.  So if Obama really intended a reset, he would have begun defending the American values that Bush let slide.



But what Obama actually did was to put the reckless Bush policy on steroids, purging every last hint of opposition (Bush had steadfastly insisted on a missile defense system for Eastern Europe, for instance) and sitting down with Putin's puppet president to munch cheeseburgers. So Obama ought to be condemned by conservatives and liberals alike, and ridden out of Washington on a rail so that a real American president can actually reset American policy, returning it to the proper path laid down by Ronald Reagan.

Pentagon Reports on China’s Military Ambitions

A very interesting post from http://www.bigpeace.com/  about the Pentagon's report on China's military. This follows this post about Chinese spying. This follows this post about understanding China. This follows this article about the recent news about the former ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence and prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran   and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE!

Pentagon Reports on China’s Military Ambitions


Posted by Jason Bradley 

Consider this a follow-up to yesterday’s post. The Pentagon finally released its long awaited annual report on China’s growing military capabilities. The findings of which are not all that surprising. It only confirms the obvious — China’s ambition to expand its military posture beyond its territorial interests to that of regional dominance.



And it’s all happening as the US is thoroughly occupied in the Middle East and staggering through an onslaught of economic troubles.



Annual Report to Congress on the Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.



The report also flagged China’s push into weapons technologies where the U.S. has long dominated, such as aircraft carriers and stealth fighters.



“The pace and scope of China’s sustained military investment have allowed China to pursue capabilities that we believe are potentially destabilizing to regional military balances, increase the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and may contribute to regional tensions and anxieties,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Michael Schiffer told reporters.



The Pentagon took special note of Beijing’s aspiration to project naval power beyond its territorial waters. In the past year, China has alarmed the U.S. and its neighbors with a more combative stance on territorial disputes in the East and South China seas. Earlier this month, China sent its first aircraft carrier on sea trials. While China’s navy “retains a decidedly regional focus,” the report said Chinese warships “will play a growing role in protecting China’s far-flung interests.”



Although the carrier, which isbased on an empty hull bought from Ukraine, doesn’t yet have aircraft, the Pentagon report said it “will likely serve initially as a training-and-evaluation platform.” And as early as this year, the report said, “China could begin construction of a fully indigenous carrier…which could achieve operational capability after 2015.” (WSJ)

NO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR GROUND ZERO MOSQUE!!

A very interesting post from www.dickmorris.com about keeping the Ground Zero mosque from getting federal tax dollars. This follows this post about Egyptian Coptic churches not protesting against Israel.   This follows this post  about Miss USA 2010 and this article about the recent news about the former ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence and prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran   and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE!

NO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR GROUND ZERO MOSQUE!!!

By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann


The ground zero mosque, called Park 51, has applied for a $5 million grant of federal funds from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. The Corporation, set up to rebuild lower Manhattan after 9-11 is actively considering the grant request. Imagine! A federal entity set up to rebuild lower Manhattan giving tax money to a mosque designed to celebrate the attacks that killed 3,000 Americans!



The ground zero mosque will offer courses in Shariah Law and will doubtless spawn hundreds of new terrorists eager to pick up where the 9-11 hijackers left off.



Officially, the federal funds would not go to religious activities, but to “fund social service programs for all the residents of Lower Manhattan such as domestic violence prevention, Arabic and other foreign language classes, programs and services for homeless veterans, two multi-cultural art exhibits and immigration services,” according to its grant application.



he sponsors of the mosque have no business rubbing the noses of the victims’ families in the dirt by building the mosque right next to the site of 9-11. But there is especially no justification for using our tax money to make it possible.



Please CLICK HERE to sign an online petition to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to urge them to refuse the grant request! Keep some sense of proportion and decency!

Praying for Those in the Path of Hurricane Irene

An interesting article from www.ucg.org about Hurricane Irene. This follows this post about the Sabbath in the bible. For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Praying for Those in the Path of Hurricane Irene






Hurricane Irene is set to hit the east coast



Source: NOAAHurricane Irene is moving up the east coast of the United States. It is expected to impact the lives of people from Florida to New England. Many cities along the coast have already been evacuated in anticipation of the pending destruction.



When natural disasters loom it is important to remember the words that God inspired: "... The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."' - James:5:16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Please join us in praying for those that will be affected by Irene.

Obamacare and Your Health Insurance

A very interesting post from www.hughhewitt.com about Obamacare and your own Health Care at work. This follows this post about the Earned Income Tax Credit, which was not reduced in the debt ceiling plan. This follows this post about the House GOP's communication problem and this article about  the recent news about ending the ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran  and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read the very interesting book that is shown HERE!

You can also write your two Senators about repealing Obamacare HERE!


Obamacare and Your Health Insurance

Posted by: Hugh Hewitt

About 30% of employers intend to drop their coverage and force their employees into government-designed health care.



The Washington Examiner's Conn Carroll has the details.



As you get ready for 2012, remember's the president's Big Lie which he used to sell Obamacare: "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it. If you like your doctor, you can keep him."

MEChA Comes Under Scrutiny

An urgent post from www.Alipac.US about the pro-immigration, successionist group called MEChA. This follows this post about the president's executive amnesty.  This follows this post about how to Report Illegal Immigrants such as the 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso, where President Barack Obama recently bashed immigration enforcement! On a related note, you can read about Miss Kentucky Latina here, an interesting article about Jessica Alba here or another article about Salma Hayek here. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read the very interesting book shown HERE!

And Remember when contacting public officials to please be firm but respectful. Any over the top messages could result in law enforcement action against you. Just let these senators know that you are aware of what they have done and that you intend to remove them from office in the 2012 elections.

TUSD MEChA Comes Under Scrutiny


TUSD’s schools have MEChA chapters and not even the district’s Superintendent knows if they are sanctioned by the district. If you don’t know what MEChA is, you are among hundreds of thousands of Tucsonans, including this author, who didn’t know and didn’t care.



The group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán came under scrutiny as a result of the Tucson Unified School District’s appeal of the finding by Superintendent of Public Instruction (SOPI) that TUSD’s Mexican American Studies classes violate state law. In violation of state law, the classes are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group, promote resentment towards a race or class of people, and advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.



Not until the district’s superintendent testified at the hearing as to an email he received from Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lupita Cavazos-Garcia was much attention paid to the TUSD group in and out of the district. In the email, Dr. Garcia expressed her concerns regarding MEChA’s efforts to recruit students for an “occupied peoples” conference at which Palestinian and TUSD students would be sharing their experiences living in “occupied” territories.



Dr. Garcia wrote that at the time of Pedicone’s hiring she had expressed to him, “my deep concern” about MEChA at TUSD. She pointed out the organization’s “anti-Semitic tone and tenor on our campuses.” She went on to state that the some of the district’s students have little emotional support and “our Raza students are ripe for this kind of influence.”



Local Raza propagandist the Three Sonorans, otherwise known as David Abie Morales, writes that some of Tucson most prominent leaders were formerly members of MEChA. He list among them controversial Congressman Raul Grijalva, who was instrumental in the Mexican American/Raza Studies class development when he was on the TUSD Governing Board. His daughter is Adelita Grijalva, who currently sits on the TUSD Governing Board. City Council member Regina Romero, who finds herself in a very close primary this year against local Tucson businessman and anti-Grijalva establishment democrat Jose Flores, and her highly controversial husband Rubin Reyes, who is a staff member of the elder Grijalva’s congressional staff, among others.

By Loretta Hunnicutt


Sunday August 28, 2011

The Tucson Citizen



So, who is MEChA? In their own words, from their website…..



“Essentially, we are a Chicana and Chicano student movement directly linked to Aztlán. As Chicanas and Chicanos of Aztlán, we are a nationalist movement of Indigenous Gente that lay claim to the land that is ours by birthright. As a nationalist movement we seek to free our people from the exploitation of an oppressive society that occupies our land. Thus, the principle of nationalism serves to preserve the cultural traditions of La Familia de La Raza and promotes our identity as a Chicana/Chicano Gente.”



“In March of 1969, at Denver, Colorado the Crusade for Justice organized the first National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference that drafted the basic premises for the Chicana/Chicano Movement in El Plan de Aztlán.”



“The following month, in April of 1969, over 100 Chicanas/Chicanos came together at University of California, Santa Barbara to formulate a plan for higher education: El Plan de Santa Barbara. With this document they were successful in the development of two very important contributions to the Chicano Movement: Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) and Chicano Studies.”



“The adoption of the name Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan signaled a new level of political consciousness among student activists. It was the final stage in the transformation of what had been loosely organized, local student groups, into a single structure and a unified student movement.”



“Adamant rejection of the label “Mexican-American” meant rejection of the assimilation and accommodationist melting pot ideology that had guided earlier generations of activists. Chicanismo involves a crucial distinction in a political consciousness between a Mexican-American (Hispanic) and a Chicana/o mentality. El Plan de Santa Barbara speaks to such issues of identity politics by asserting:



“The Mexican-American (Hispanic) is a person who lacks respect for his/her cultural and ethnic heritage. Unsure of her/himself, she/he seeks assimilation as a way out of her/his “degraded” social status. Consequently, she/he remains politically ineffective. In contrast, Chicanismo reflects self-respect and pride on one’s ethnic and cultural background. Thus, the Chicana/o acts with confidence and with a range of alternatives in the political world. She/he is capable of developing an effective ideology through action” (El Plan de Santa Barbara).



“MEChA played an important role in the creation and implementation of Chicana/o Studies and support services programs on campus. Chicana/o Studies programs would be a relevant alternative to established curricula. Most important, the Chicana/o Studies program would be the foundation of MEChA’s political power base. Today many Chicana/os Studies Programs would have difficulty operating if it were not for the enthusiasm and dedication of Mechistas to Chicana/o Studies.”



“We, as Mechistas, see the process of Chicanismo as evolutionary. We recognize that no one is born politically Chicana or Chicano. Chicanismo results from a decision based on a political consciousness for our Raza, to dedicate oneself to building a Chicana/Chicano Nation. Chicanismo is a concept that integrates self-awareness with cultural identity, a necessary step in developing political consciousness. Therefore the term Chicano is grounded in a philosophy, not a nationality. Chicanismo does not exclude anyone, rather it includes those who acknowledge and work toward the betterment of La Raza.”

“Chicanismo involves a personal decision to reject assimilation and work towards the preservation of our cultural heritage. Recognizing that all people are potential Chicanas and Chicanos, we encourage those interested in developing a total commitment to our movement for self-determination for the people of Aztlán to join Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán.”



“Finally, as Mechistas, we vow to work for the liberation of Aztlán, leading to socioeconomic and political justice for our Gente. MEChA then, is more than a name; it is a spirit of unity by comadrismo/carnalismo, and a resolution to undertake a struggle for liberation! Tierra y Libertad!”



MEChA chapters are at Tucson High School and Pueblo High School.



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