2010 a New Year, a New Decade- May it bring 'real' hope and change, because miracles DO happen!

2009 was a rough year and, admittedly, I will be happy when it's finally over. When I lived in Ecuador (for 2 years during high school), on New Year's eve they had a major block party on one of the major drags. Up and down Amazonas boulevard, live bands played music and effigies representing the old year were burned. I haven't thought about that in a long time, but this year I might do something similar as a symbolic gesture for out with the old, because it really sucked.

The economy has taken its toll on many, including me. Arts funding is usually the first to go in challenging economic times, so many theatres have shut down, the work has dwindled, and it might be time to search for another career. I also battled health problems for the best part of the year, and am only just starting to feel normal again, if that's possible when you have 2 chronic ailments. I have been sick since March, but since the beginning of May (when I finally decided to go to a doctor) I have been trekking to MDs and acupuncturists anywhere from 2 to 4 times a week. Because of lack of work, I did not get enough weeks to qualify for my union health insurance, so I will be paying over $2,000 per quarter in Cobra payments. At least I have that option. But 2010 is a new year and the start of a new decade, and I am ever hopeful- because miracles happen.

On the national level, we saw the election of our first black president, which would have been wonderful had it been the "right" black president. I blogged about what a disaster it would be to vote for Obama, and how a no vote or a vote for a 3rd party candidate was essentially a vote for Obama. People did anyway, and now many regret the decision. I'd like to say I told you so, but what would I gain from that. I just hope people remember, and vote the right way in 2010 and 2012. And though it seems that Obama could lay waste to this precious country in 4 short years, 2010 is a new year and the start of a new decade, and I am ever hopeful that things can change, for the better. And not Obama's vacuous claims of "hope and change." Real hope and change- because miracles happen.

We've seen more violence and more craziness around the world, with an increase in radical Islam (and the ultimate goal of global domination by extremists), but on the other hand we've also seen Muslims against terrorism and shariah become more vocal in their condemnation, both here and abroad. We are also witnessing that there are those in the Middle East who truly want democracy and will fight to achieve that goal, and so we need to pray for the Iranian people who are fighting on their own for freedom. All they want is moral support. Let's give it to them. Maybe more will follow suit, though that's highly unlikely. So, in spite of the mess our sad little world is in, 2010 is a new year and the start of a new decade, and I am ever hopeful that 'good' will win over 'evil'- because the good guys always win, and miracles do happen.

And if you don't believe in miracles watch this




Wishing everyone a blessed, prosperous and Happy New year. May it bring many miracles into all of our lives.

GOD bless this country and all freedom-loving people of the world.

Cross posted at Mind, Body, Spirit

Pork Is Not A Veggie: Royal Mail Staffers Served Pork In Their Veggie Meal- Understandably Pissed

I'm a vegetarian and am very conscious about what I eat. When I am out, I will always ask if a particular food item has any animal products and I expect the server/chef to be honest with me. And no, fish and chicken are not vegetables, as so many people seem to think. Nor is a broth made from the flesh of an animal to be considered okay for non-meat eaters. And a vegetable dish that contains ham is NOT a vegetarian option, simply because the bulk of it is vegetable. I'm not sure why some people think that as long as it doesn't have chunks of meat, then it should be considered vegetarian. It's not, beleive me.

So when I read an article in the Birmingham mail about some Muslim Royal Mail workers who were incensed that the veggie option at their holiday celebration contained pork,
I could sympathize. For once.

Staff at Birmingham’s Aston sorting office were treated to a festive buffet for their efforts throughout the year.

But the gesture backfired when Muslim workers realised the scotch eggs contained pork.

The party food favourite was one of the options available to vegetarians and those from religious backgrounds who were unable to eat meat.

I will be the first to criticize Muslims for what I often feel is a major sense of entitlement that is wholly unjustified, but in this case if you are going to offer a meat-free option then make it meat-free. Not semi meat-free and pass it off as vegetarian. Apparently it was a "genuine mistake" and an apology and a free cup of tea was offered, but the 15 or so Muslim workers who were invited to the free Christmas buffet were angry as hell. And I can well understand their fury. There are a lot of people who don't eat meat for a variety of reasons, and vegetarian options have become standard everywhere. I would have been just as angry had I gobbled down meat in my scotch eggs.


I don't think any of us herbivores expect special treatment, I usually eat before I attend any group events, but it's always a nice gesture to have a veggie alternative, and if you are going to offer that option make sure none of the ingredients walked prior to being cooked.

Toronto Gaza Freedom March

My buddy BlazingCatFur, from up north took his camera and attended the Toronto "Gaza Freedom March", and the usual rag tag liberal loons attended. Thankfully a large contingency of pro-Israel demonstrators attended to counter protest. But it boggles the mind how people would rather support a bunch of terrorist, Islamic thugs than a freedom-loving democracy. How can they be so blinded to the truth?

Here we have a self-loathing Jew.

And here are those who seem to have no problem with Hamas/Palestinian barbarism. Let's see: bombing Israeli civilians, using civilians as human shields, sending their children off as suicide bombers. How very civilized.

Ulterior Motive For Jimmy Carter's Apology To Jews

When I read that Jimmy Carter had actually apologized to the Jews for his often contentious, anti-Semitic diatribes I knew there had to be some ulterior motive. A man who has so vociferously criticized Israel for years doesn't repent overnight. A man who actually called Israel an apartheid state in his book- "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid"- had to have some other reason for apologizing, besides a sudden change of heart. At first I thought- heck maybe he's dying and he wants to make amends before he kicks the bucket. It happens. Wiping one's slate clean, so to speak. After all, he told the Jewish community he was

... offering an Al Het, a prayer said on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. It signifies a plea for forgiveness.

"We must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel," Carter said in the letter, which was first sent to JTA, a wire service for Jewish newspapers, and provided Wednesday to The Associated Press. "As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so ."

I'm all for asking for forgiveness and forgiving others, but the apology has to be sincere. I should have known better when it comes to Jimmah Carter, the two-faced snake. No, he's not dying- his grandson, Jason Carter, is running for office in a predominately Jewish area in Atlanta. The grandson, of course, denies any relationship between his grandpa's apology and his eyeing the state Senate seat that will become available if Obama's political nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, David Adelman, is confirmed. The special election would occur in March.

Jason Carter, who is running in a district with a vocal Jewish population, said in a statement that his grandfather's letter was unrelated to his campaign and hailed the apology as a "great step towards reconciliation."

Apologizing must have been a massively bitter pill to swallow, considering everything he has said about Israel and the Jews, because frankly I don't buy it. Others have been more accepting,

Carter's apology was welcomed by Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a vocal critic of Carter's views on Israel.

"When a former president reaches out to the Jewish community and asks for forgiveness, it's incumbent of us to accept it," he said in a telephone interview from Jerusalem. "To what extent this is an epiphany, only time will tell. There certainly was a lot of hurt, a lot of angry words that need to be repaired. But this is a good start."

I'm glad someone believed him. And perhaps I would have been less skeptical had this not coincided with his grandson's political aspirations.

Joke of the day: The Dems Christmas Present To The Country

It's so incredibly pathetic that the Democrats in the Senate felt the need to pass the healthcare bill by Christmas eve, in spite of the fact that a huge majority of the population is against it, in its present form. The sole reason? Politics.

Bah humbug!

From Zack over at Diversity Lane. Click to enlarge.

Jihad A Family Affair- Wife of al Qaida's #2 Henchman Calls On Women To Join Jihad

How heart-warming, Jihad is becoming a family affair. Al Qaida has been recruiting men and their male children, and now their wives are being called into action by none other than the wife of Osama Bin Laden's number 2 henchman, Ayman al-Zawahiri. So now, instead of being asked to stand by their men by giving birth to and raising Jihadi babies and donating money, the women are being asked to join in the fun. Although unverified, Umaima Hassan posted her message on the internet- apparently the first time an al Qaida wife has encouraged others to fight and/or blow themselves up- telling women it was an "obligation" to fight. She did add that it would challenging since

"Fighting is not easy for women, because she needs a male guardian at her side."

I guess making it a family project would deal with that issue quite well.

NBC News counterterrorism analyst, Evan Kohlmann, said Umaima

wrote specifically of "martyrdom" and "how many sisters carried out a martyrdom operation in Palestine, Iraq and Chechnya, and caused the enemy high costs and caused the enemy a big defeat. We ask from Allah to accept them and connect us with them with goodness."

Kohlmann seems to think there might be a shortage of jihadi fighting machines, hence the call for female participation. My question is, if women go off to fight, who is going to raise the next generation of jihadis? Not that I care. Maybe Umaima and the whole family (along with all her friends and relatives) will strap on bombs and get blown up together. That would solve the al Qaida problem quite nicely.

"Umaima? Yo Mama!"

HatTip: Weasel Zippers

Allah But No Jesus In Indiana School Holiday Show

Children at Lantern Road Elementary School in central Indiana were set to sing "Allah is God", in their 'all-inclusive' holiday production, until the reference was removed after much hoopla. What Christians took offense to was the fact that "Allah" was the only deity mentioned throughout the programme. So some parents, with the help of American Family Association (AFA), lobbied for its removal. This, naturally, offended the Muslim Alliance of Indiana:

“It’s unfortunate if that was removed from the program just because of Islamophobic feelings,” Shariq Siddiqui told the Indianapolis Star. “Schools are a place where we should learn more about each other rather than exclude each other based on stereotypes and misconceptions.”

Siddiqi's anger would be totally justified if the school had altogether removed the Muslim section of the show- which included Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas and Ramadan- which it did not. And I think no-one would have had any problems with a song mentioning 'Allah', if they had mentioned 'Jesus' during the Christmas portion of the programme, which they did not.

The principal of the school stated that the holiday production was a means of teaching inclusiveness to the children, which is a wonderful concept, as long as you are being inclusive. I have no problem with inclusiveness. Celebrating and learning about other people's cultures and religions teaches us respect and tolerance of others. But singing:

"Allah is God, we recall at dawn,

Praying ‘til night during Ramadan

At this joyful time we pray happiness for you,

Allah be with you all your life through.”

and then

“I didn’t know there was a little boy at the manger. What child is this?

I’m not sure if there was a little boy or not.

Then why did you paint one on your nativity window?

I just thought if there was a little boy, I’d like to know exactly what he (sic) say.”

That's not quite equitable. Micah Clarke of the Indiana AFA had this to say of the inequity

“(This show) affirmed Islam and negated Christianity. I wouldn’t have had a problem if it had been equal to all faiths.”

Which is what it all boils down to. Had there been any mention of Jesus which is what Christmas is all about, I don't think there would have been any problems.

Muslim Burqini-clad Women In Amsterdam Want Men Banned From The Pool

The latest inanity comes out of Amsterdam where Muslim burqini-clad women have demanded that men be banned while they swim in Zuiderbad pool, even though every ounce of their bodies are covered with swaths of cloth, save their hands, feet and faces. Now I realize most Muslim women are into the extreme modesty thing, because men can't control themselves and might lust after them, but these Islamic "swim suits" are very loose fitting and pretty darn ridiculous looking so there would be no way in hell they would attract unwanted attention. But, it seems they would feel uncomfortable with men looking at the few inches of exposed flesh so they've made these ridiculous demands. The silly thing is, even with Burqas, hands are exposed. Next they'll be fashioning a burqini that has gloves, socks and a mask attached.

Thankfully, Zuiderbad employees and the mayor aren't caving into their demands, at least not yet.

Egbert de Vries, mayor of the Oud-Zuid district, says it's nonsense to bar
all men from the pool for this reason.But he says that he can see having women's hour for one or two hours a week. For example, there's naked swimming an hour a week, and that is open only for men.

Apparently, they already have women's only swimming class every week, so why don't they join that one. Or, better yet, if they want freedom to swim whenever they want, how about the Muslim community building a swimming pool of their own. Although some bikinis verge on the obscene, burqinis in their own way are as well.

Hat tip Muslims Against Sharia via Islam In Europe