Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 1371

I have to say I'm grateful to Vox Nova

After months of being denounced as a closet Obama supporter, an America-hater, a socialist, a vile leftist who should just leave the Catholic Church and go hang out with my communist buddies, a disgusting turncoat both to truly true patriotism *and* truly true Catholic belief, I am greatly relieved to finally be hearing once again that I am, in fact, a blind American jingo super-patriot and zealous right-winger who doesn't grasp the fact that (I am not making this up) "America is the greatest force for evil in the world in the history of mankind."

He also helpfully adds:

To get it means to be shell-shocked by the utter depravity of every aspect of the United States, to see that the game is up, that doom is allotted, and that abortion, war, poverty, and every kind of violence will continue unabated until the wrath and judgment of God is poured out upon this proud and blind people.

Now, I hold no brief for the Eternity of the United States, nor for the notion that we are exempt from original sin, nor for the theory that we can go on forever spitting in God's eye and avoiding judgement. Indeed, I think anybody with an ounce of sense can see we are already knee deep in our own stupid, self-inflicted punishment for our pride.

But the whole Calvinist Prophet schtick doesn't wash with me. It's rubbish to say that Every Aspect of the United States (or anything human) is Utterly Depraved. Calvinists believe such BS, not Catholics. We're fallen. Got it. But grace is here too and God saves even Americans.

Still, it's a nice change of pace to be denounced for loving my country instead of for being a secret Komminiss. Word up, Nate: the cure for the monstrous sin of nationalistic pride is not hatred of your country but love of it. Also, if you could perhaps bracket that particular discussion so that it doesn't look like an attempt to divert the conversation from the salient points Thomas Peters was making about Vox Nova's ideological filters, that would be good too.

Oh, I gotta love this:

"I agree that there is hyperbole going on with Nate's post." - The Judicious Henry Karlson, who only reserves strong words like "You are a liar" for people who do something really serious, like making fun of Vox Nova, not for fellow Vox Novans who perpetuate the lie that "Debate Club at Auschwitz" is a suggestion of Nazi sympathies, even when they know perfectly well the origin and intention of the lampoon.

Also delightful: Morning's Minion instructing all us utterly depraved and damned souls on civil discourse.

Increasingly, there is a tendency to disparage the name and reputation, the character and life, of a person because he or she holds a different position. The identifying of some people as "bigots" and "hate mongers" simply because they hold a position contrary to another's has unfortunately become all too commonplace today. Locally, we have witnessed rhetorical hyperbole that, I believe, long since crossed the line between reasoned discourse and irresponsible demagoguery….

Irresponsible blogs, electronic and print media stories, and pulpit and podium people-bashing rhetoric can be likened to many forms of anonymous violence. Spin and extremist language should not be embraced as the best this country is capable of achieving.

Boy, we sure don't want to have irresponsible demagoguery at Vox Nova. Somebody might say something ridiculous like "America is the greatest force for evil in the world in the history of mankind" or start blathering about the utter depravity of every aspect of his fellow citizens and the civilization that gave him life, food, shelter, an education, a family and countless other gifts he can never repay.

Of course, when Lefties do that, it's "prophetic", doncha know. Righties who say ridiculous irresponsible stuff like that are just unhinged and are probably trying to get somebody to shoot a congresswoman.

This explains an awful lot

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cOlbertunity Knockswww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire Blog</a>The Daily Show on Facebook
Actually, I could tell it was a fake newsmeat factory because the girls weren't blonde.

Prayer Request

I'm an employee at a large media company that just bought another Internet concern. Anyway, the employees are very worried right now about being made redundant by the latter. Me, particularly. I am my family's sole breadwinner, and I'm about paralyzed with fear at the thought of losing my job. This job is so necessary to the survival of my family, please pray for us . Also, prayers to our Lord are always welcome, too. Thank you.

Father, hear our prayer for this person and their family, that the job would remain rock solid through Christ our Lord, amen. Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for this situation that God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be glorified through it.

Ireland paying the Piper

In which we look at the Faustian Bargain post-Catholic Ireland has made.

Jody Bottum Shouts into the Wind About Egypt's Christians

If anything has been made evident in the past decade or so, it is that our foreign policy basically cares not a jot for Christians in the Islamosphere.

Victor Lams Writes with Critical News!!!!!

As you are no doubt aware today, Monday, February 7, is "Love Your Robot Day". On this day we show our appreciation for all that the robots do for us by showing them some gentle sign of appreciation. Since it's possible to take expressions of robot love too far (a trend exemplified in most expressions of robot love displayed in popular culture), I'm always on the lookout for proper ways to love your robot.

So it was with great interest that I stumbled upon this educational film from 1979 that really just seems to get it. Perhaps it's something you'd like to share with your readers. What's most interesting is that I'd always assumed a friend and I started Love Your Robot Day back in 2001. This film predates that by 22 years! Now my interest is piqued and I'm curious to see what other expressions of robot love we can find, going back through archival footage. Anyway, that's probably a topic best left for next Love Your Robot Day.

Odd, how much that narrator looks like Victor Lams. No doubt due to the fact that all people who love robots look similar.

If you are looking for a way to love your robot, Victor is your one stop shopping source.

They Don't Call it World Nut Daily for Nothing

Latest loony fundamentalist crank story:
Video: Has Revelation's 'pale rider' shown up in Egypt?
Riot footage shows mysterious horse-like figure floating through crowd

Mhm.

I think it look more like Bear Holding a Shark.

John Derbyshire...

on Anglican tribalism.

On my way into the Catholic Church, I briefly looked at Episcopalianism. When I was informed by an Episcopal pastor that Episcopalianism was not so much a faith as a "cultural coalition" I headed for the door and never looked back. Nothing in the subsequent spectacle of Episcopalianism has ever, for one moment, caused me to reassess either the pastor's words or my choice.



If it's just aesthetics, the hell with it.

Alter egos

Mr. Magundi and Dr. Boli are not only the same person, but both of him are fun to read!

Seriously. FOXNews Could Not Possibly Care Less About You

...you Christian sucker. It is a network designed to convince conservative suckers that its different than all those other "liberal" media venues and that it really cares about your concerns. It doesn't.