Ok, that title is just inflammatory, but it’s not too far from the truth. I came across this article critiquing something Keillor wrote in the Baltimore Sun (??? – really… why the Baltimore Sun?).

http://www.minnpost.com/community_voices/2009/12/22/14492/cool_it_keillor_its_a_multicultural_world_out_there

You can read the original Keillor article from the Sun here.

Is this Keillor’s “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore” moment? It certainly seems to come out of nowhere, and makes him sound like an incredible crank. Merry ****ing Christmas to you to sir!

The furor over California’s passage of Proposition 8, an amendment to the state’s constitution banning same-sex marriage, continues to boil. Newsweek had a recent cover story discussing whether or not the Bible supports or condemns gay marriage.

I found the article poorly researched and not well written, something I would expect on a blog (insert irony here) not from a respected bellwether such as Newsweek. However, after reading the article and the associated feedback Newsweek received, I find myself asking the same question I always do when this topic comes up: what is so wrong with gay people getting married?
Read the rest of this entry »

as a christian, i am often frustrated by those in public life who hijack that term in order to justify discrimination and hatred. people pick out-of-context snippets of the bible– often using out-of-date translations in the process– to claim that they have “spiritual basis” for attitudes that are completely out of alignment if you read the whole book. the exploitation of faith and how it is now seen as something you flaunt to garner election support is, to me, the most disgusting aspect of political process– which is saying something, as i feel that the entire system is mired in the muck. and, typically, the media is more than happy to shine the spotlight on those who twist and bastardize faith in this manner.

but, every once in a while, a rational voice pokes through. enter herbert w. chillstrom (from a strib op-ed piece last week):

Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to my lovely wife and her family, I’ve become addicted to listening to holiday music starting Thanksgiving Day. Each year I can’t wait for KOOL 108 to ditch their normal oldies play lists for the sounds of Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Nat King Cole, and Jose Feliciano.

After listening to KOOL 108 for 4 weeks straight now, I have discovered there are a few songs that I absolutely cannot stand… for various reasons:
Read the rest of this entry »

in case you haven’t heard of the latest airline / muslim kerfuffle, go here. (Then come back.)

oy.

well, i guess it depends on what version of the story you believe. if you believe this one:

Shahin said Tuesday that three members of the group prayed in the terminal before the six boarded the plane on Monday. “We did nothing” on the plane, Shahin said.

then the USAir passenger (margaret lou from sioux falls, SD, no doubt) apparently watches Fox News too much and handed a note to the flight attendant simply because the imams looked suspicious.

if you believe this one:

Pat Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, said that witnesses to Monday’s events told police that before the flight that besides praying, the imams were spouting anti-American rhetoric, talking about the war in Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

One of the imams was heard saying that he would do whatever is necessary to fulfill his commitment to the Qur’an, witnesses told police, Hogan said. Other witnesses said some of the imams were repeating “Allah, Allah,” he said.

then i suppose that’s a different story.

Read the rest of this entry »