Held responsible
Jake Tapper of ABC News reports (Oct. 13): "President Obama today said that whether Iran's top leaders were aware of the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate, in Washington, DC, the Saudi Ambassador to the US, they would be held responsible.
" 'Even if at the highest levels there was not detailed operational knowledge, there has to be accountability with respect to anybody in the Iranian government engaging in this kind of activity,' the president said at a joint press availability in the East Room of the White House with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak."
Immediately I thought, why would this same rationale not be true for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Fast and Furious operation? Should he not be held accountable per Obama's words? Or is there a double standard?
KAY ANDERSON
Winston-Salem
South Korea state dinner
I couldn't find any figures for the cost of the recent White House state dinner for South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, but according to CBS reporter Mark Knoller (Nov. 24, 2009), "A dinner of this magnitude is months in the making, takes days of round-the-clock preparations as the night of the dinner approaches and costs taxpayers a pretty penny, estimated as much as half a million dollars. The government does not disclose the precise cost of such dinners, but they are funded by the budget of the State Department's Office of Protocol."
What a relief! I was sure the taxpayers would have to foot the bill. Lucky they didn't serve $16 croissants or $5 meatballs.
JAMES P. BARRETT
Wallburg
Blanket statement
About the Oct. 16 letter "Advanced apologies," I'm amazed that the letter writer took the time to get to know each and every one of the "Occupy Winston-Salem" people and their individual situations. He must have done so to be able to make the blanket statement that all of them "sit around downtown and whine to the government for more entitlements and handouts."
His implication is that none of them have tried to get a job at all — and that's so easy to do these days! Obviously he is gainfully employed, and good for him. But I bet there are some in this group who have painfully lost their jobs and are not actually bums.
I have two thoughts for this writer: Don't make sweeping judgments about people you don't even know. And the concept of compassion: try it.
EDWIN BLAKE WADDELL
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up
Do you think questions about a presidential candidate's faith are fair game?
Jake Tapper of ABC News reports (Oct. 13): "President Obama today said that whether Iran's top leaders were aware of the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate, in Washington, DC, the Saudi Ambassador to the US, they would be held responsible.
" 'Even if at the highest levels there was not detailed operational knowledge, there has to be accountability with respect to anybody in the Iranian government engaging in this kind of activity,' the president said at a joint press availability in the East Room of the White House with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak."
Immediately I thought, why would this same rationale not be true for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Fast and Furious operation? Should he not be held accountable per Obama's words? Or is there a double standard?
KAY ANDERSON
Winston-Salem
South Korea state dinner
I couldn't find any figures for the cost of the recent White House state dinner for South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, but according to CBS reporter Mark Knoller (Nov. 24, 2009), "A dinner of this magnitude is months in the making, takes days of round-the-clock preparations as the night of the dinner approaches and costs taxpayers a pretty penny, estimated as much as half a million dollars. The government does not disclose the precise cost of such dinners, but they are funded by the budget of the State Department's Office of Protocol."
What a relief! I was sure the taxpayers would have to foot the bill. Lucky they didn't serve $16 croissants or $5 meatballs.
JAMES P. BARRETT
Wallburg
Blanket statement
About the Oct. 16 letter "Advanced apologies," I'm amazed that the letter writer took the time to get to know each and every one of the "Occupy Winston-Salem" people and their individual situations. He must have done so to be able to make the blanket statement that all of them "sit around downtown and whine to the government for more entitlements and handouts."
His implication is that none of them have tried to get a job at all — and that's so easy to do these days! Obviously he is gainfully employed, and good for him. But I bet there are some in this group who have painfully lost their jobs and are not actually bums.
I have two thoughts for this writer: Don't make sweeping judgments about people you don't even know. And the concept of compassion: try it.
EDWIN BLAKE WADDELL
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up
Do you think questions about a presidential candidate's faith are fair game?
Respond to letters@wsjournal.com and put "Sum It
Up" in the subject header. Only signed entries please, no anonymous ones.
Briefer responses receive preference in print.
Dominance and control
The Nov. 13 article, "Panelists discuss faith, domestic violence," belies problems in interpreting the Bible out of context. My point is this: does a given passage pertain to cultural, historical concerns or universal applications — or both?
To be sure, Jesus was unequivocal in forbidding divorce — except on grounds of adultery or unchastity (Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). Male Hebrews could divorce their wives for frivolous reasons, and Christ prohibited this. It's clear marriage was intended to be a lifelong commitment in the Bible.
The article then mentions that (in)famous section in Ephesians 5:22: "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord." How often have men used this to justify dominance and control?
Let's be honest: historically, and in some places today, wives were and are considered property. Patriarchy remains a worldwide sociological norm.
Having worked in a domestic-violence program, I've seen women arrive with puffy jaws, bruises and some with eyes so swollen they were only slits. Most "murder-suicides" are committed by deranged men who execute wives and girlfriends, and in some cases, children. Domestic violence remains the most egregious form of sexism.
To be sure, clergy who counsel couples or wives to remain married are being faithful to the Bible. However, I recommend abused women be referred to Family Services, a local agency that helps with this ugly problem. Does anyone believe Christ wants a woman to be repeatedly shoved, slapped, pushed, punched, kicked and knocked down for the sake of marriage vows?
PETER VENABLE
Winston-Salem
The Nov. 13 article, "Panelists discuss faith, domestic violence," belies problems in interpreting the Bible out of context. My point is this: does a given passage pertain to cultural, historical concerns or universal applications — or both?
To be sure, Jesus was unequivocal in forbidding divorce — except on grounds of adultery or unchastity (Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). Male Hebrews could divorce their wives for frivolous reasons, and Christ prohibited this. It's clear marriage was intended to be a lifelong commitment in the Bible.
The article then mentions that (in)famous section in Ephesians 5:22: "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord." How often have men used this to justify dominance and control?
Let's be honest: historically, and in some places today, wives were and are considered property. Patriarchy remains a worldwide sociological norm.
Having worked in a domestic-violence program, I've seen women arrive with puffy jaws, bruises and some with eyes so swollen they were only slits. Most "murder-suicides" are committed by deranged men who execute wives and girlfriends, and in some cases, children. Domestic violence remains the most egregious form of sexism.
To be sure, clergy who counsel couples or wives to remain married are being faithful to the Bible. However, I recommend abused women be referred to Family Services, a local agency that helps with this ugly problem. Does anyone believe Christ wants a woman to be repeatedly shoved, slapped, pushed, punched, kicked and knocked down for the sake of marriage vows?
PETER VENABLE
Winston-Salem
LTE #1.... of course there are double standards.
ReplyDelete-Would you also include officials who oversaw Project Gunrunner and Operation Wide Receiver?
- If anyone initiated waterboarding and other forms of torture against American prisoners, we would demand they be prosecuted for war crimes.
LTE #3... I agree, anyone that has to give advanced apologies for what they are about to do or say, should think twice before doing it.
If anybody saw 'Saturday Night Live' last night, and the skit 'Who's on Top'. I did not, repeat, did not, write in and make the suggestion that the 'Saturday Night Live' staff make a skit utilizing that topic.
ReplyDeleteYou see, the skit was made to appear to be a game show where several contestants guessed if two male celebrities were gay, who would be on top if they engaged in a gay male sex act.
I know one thing, if we played that game in here, I be a high ridin cowboy.
Bob: As site administrator, do you have a way to delete comments made by others?
ReplyDeleteI have tried to use white out but it just runs down the screen.
ReplyDeleteHere's the link if you want to see it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/whos-on-top/1358184
I know some of you think I think this stuff up.
Hi La Sombra. I'm sure I can
ReplyDeletewell no, Bucky, I've never associated you with thinking at all.
ReplyDeleteBob: Good. I might say something I'll later regret; if I don't delete it I'm hoping you'll have my back.
ReplyDeleteWW: ROTFLMFAO!!!
☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻♫♫♫♪♀♀♀♀♂♂♂♂
ReplyDeleteBucky Boquita, Bucky Boquita,
ReplyDeleteYa no puede caminar........♪♫♪♫♪♫
TMI today.
ReplyDeleteReading and Math scores in public schools have increased just 1% since 1970, yet we are spending almost three times as much on education.
ReplyDeleteIt's no wonder the kids aren't learning, when we've got people like Rush/Idiot/KittyKat/Nitwit teaching.
Rush you're an idiot.
An idiot, dolt, or dullard is a mentally deficient person, or someone who acts in a self-defeating or significantly counterproductive way.
Religion claims its place in Occupy Wall Street
ReplyDeletehttp://news.yahoo.com/religion-claims-place-occupy-wall-street-171204904.html
@Bucky
ReplyDeleteReading and Math scores in public schools have increased just 1% since 1970, yet we are spending almost three times as much on education.
Your point is? We're spending more that 3 times 1970's prices are most everything.
Maybe with the exception of entertainment. For example this site is free, and you my dearest Bucky are very entertaining.
You know this must be the next bubble to pop:The massive burden of student loans is already dragging on the rest of the economy,” says Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a University of Tennessee professor whose “Instapundit” blog highlights a looming higher education bubble that is set to burst
ReplyDeleteRead more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/class_warfare_DaPpGFniGcU0Z3ryUvXSOO#ixzz1beuyQTtC
Good evening folks!
ReplyDeleteI fail to see any point to Bucky's SNL comment.
LTE1: I see a lack of accountability in our watchdog press, as they have been reticent in reporting on Fast and Furious.
LTE2: The trade agreement we signed with the ROK is worth far more than a dinner of pomp and circumstance. The $500K is worth it.
LTE3: Reasonable commentary, but be assured that some of the OWS bunch have no intention of getting jobs, as their occupation is being part of the Perennially Indignant. Others would not work in the belly of the capitalist beast on principle, preferring to accept the generosity of taxpayers who do.
Sum It Up: I don't really care re their faith. I prefer to see their work histories and to know their overall political philosophies.
Domestic violence: Correct, domestic violence is contrary to JC's teachings. Note that He saved the adultress from stoning, forgave her, and bade her go and sin no more.
Off-Topic Alert:
ReplyDeleteI am frequently critical of President Obama, but I give credit where it is due: we are pulling out of Iraq quickly. We had intended to leave some advisers, but the Iraqi government says it will not exempt our soldiers from Iraqi law in the event they become involved in military activity (and perhaps there is an accidental shooting, for example).
Obama and DOD Secretary Panetta say No Sale, we're pulling them out. Next stops should be Afghanistan and aid for Pakistan. Buh-bye ingrates, we'll apply the dough to the national debt (probably not, but nice thought).
Hmmm...looks like Stab's doppleganger might be online?
ReplyDelete