Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 146
July 19, 2016
Are wedding cakes & photos commodities, or are they art?
When atheists object to a monument of the Ten Commandments, I have argued that it should be defended as a work of art. And to the reply that non-religious people find it offensive, say, “art is supposed to be offensive.” As we see in the futile attempts to ban controversial art works, art is pretty [Read More...]
Missing the smoke-filled room
Delegates opposing Donald Trump disrupted the choreography at the Republican national convention. They booed, yelled (“shame!” “roll call vote!”), and walked out after their petition to have the convention vote on freeing the delegates was gaveled down without a roll call vote. In other news, Donald Trump defied the tradition that the candidate only appears [Read More...]
July 18, 2016
Lutherans have a confessional convention
Conservatives/confessionals feel very good about the triennial convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which concluded last week in Milwaukee. They passed virtually all of their resolutions by big margins, elected virtually all of their candidates, and won some big victories. The convention voted to ensure that everyone engaged in Word and Sacrament ministry be [Read More...]
The Republican National Convention starts today
The 2016 Republican Convention starts today in Cleveland, Ohio. It may be a strange one. Most A-list political speakers are not coming, but we will be getting lots of athletes whom presidential nominee Donald Trump hails as “winners.” A big number of the delegates who will be voting for Trump nevertheless do not care for [Read More...]
Three officers killed in Baton Rouge
Three police officers were killed and three were wounded in Baton Rouge, the site of a controversial shooting of a suspect two weeks ago. Since then, 10 policemen–in Dallas, Michigan, and now Baton Rouge–have been murdered. For the emotional toll this is taking on the nation’s police officers, see this. From 3 police officers killed, 3 [Read More...]
Pro-democracy coup in Turkey fails
Turkey has a tradition of practicing a more moderate type of Islam with a more secular government than other middle eastern states. Thus, secular is one of the few Islamic countries with a long-standing democracy. So not all Turks are happy with the government of President Erdogan, who, though democratically elected has become more and [Read More...]
July 15, 2016
Trump picks Pence as VP, quells rebellion
Donald Trump picked Indiana governor Mike Pence as his Vice Presidential running-mate. Pence has been well-regarded by social and religious conservatives. That reputation was tarnished a bit recently when he first approved of a religious exemption for LGBT laws in his state, but then rescinded it when faced with pressure from corporate interests. He may [Read More...]
Terrorist attack in France kills 84
As Bastille Day celebrants packed the streets watching fireworks in Nice, France, a large truck broke through barriers and accelerated into the crowd, driving for over a mile until he jumped out of the cab and started shooting. He was killed by police. The death count stands at 75, with over 100 injured. Authorities are calling [Read More...]
Trump “is the most pro-gay candidate in American electoral history”
Jim Hoft, founder of the Gateway Pundit, a leading conservative blog, has come out publicly as gay. That was his response to liberals’ defense of Islam after the Orlando shootings. He believes that Donald Trump, with his tough stance against ISIS and Islamic immigrants and his long-time friendly relationship to gays and their causes, is the [Read More...]
Lutheran women as conscientious objectors
The convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which ended yesterday, passed a novel resolution against the government’s recent decision to have women serve in combat. The church formulated a position, in line with Defense Department policy, that will allow Lutheran women who do not believe in registering for the draft or participating in combat [Read More...]
