News Worthy of Notice

Meanwhile, Over In Iran… *Open Thread*

123 Comments

Violence continues to erupt in the Middle East. Yesterday, I wrote about the riots in Afghanistan over the military’s handling of Korans used for exchanging extremist messages. People died in the riots, and now Obama has sent a letter of apology to Karzai for the Koran burning. Of course, this is not the first time there have been deadly riots there over the Koran being burned, even if it didn’t HAPPEN in Afghanistan. You may recall, a Koran being burned in the USA was sufficient for deadly riots to take place.

Meanwhile, two more NATO forces were killed by a man dressed in an Afghan Army uniform, an increasing issue for NATO soldiers there. I bet Karzai is jumping right on writing a letter of apology himself. Right.

And meanwhile, right this minute, a Christian Pastor sits in an Iranian prison, where he has been since 2009. His crime? He refuses to denounce his Christian faith. As of Wednesday, this pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, has been sentenced to death:

[snip] Supporters fear Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at any time without prior warning, as death sentences in Iran may be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.

It is unclear whether Nadarkhani can appeal the execution order.

“The world needs to stand up and say that a man cannot be put to death because of his faith,” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

“This one case is not just about one execution. We have been able to expose the system instead of just letting one man disappear, like so many other Christians have in the past.”

It is also feared that Nadarkhani will be executed in retaliation as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue rhetoric. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month.

“This is defiance,” Sekulow said. “They want to say they will carry out what they say they will do.” [snip] (Click here to read the rest.)

What a tragic situation. Pastor Nadarkhani is married, and has two children. Efforts are being made by the State Department for his release, but his imprisonment has gone on too, too long. And the threat of death for his beliefs is simply unacceptable.

Speaking of a death penalty, here is some News From The Bizarre. A US woman attempted to hire a hit man to kill the first person he saw wearing fur. Yes, she is a BIG animal rights person and this was how she wanted to make her point: by killing a real live human being. I am not kidding you about this. I could not believe my eyes when I saw it in yesterday’s paper (I saw that Coach Collins has a post about this very story today, too).

Now, y’all know I am a HUGE animal supporter. My partner and I give a boatload of money to rescue organizations, wildlife organizations, ocean groups, and the whole shebang. ALL of our animals are rescues, including our horse. I LOVE animals. We have deer coming through my yard every single night that we stop and watch every single night. Animals are large in our hearts. But this is nuts. People are animals, too, not for nothing. And committing murder is so far from making one’s point, it is not even on the same planet.

Holy crap. What is WRONG with people?!?

Finally, and this really is an Open Thread, one very sad story broke today, news still forthcoming about it. Tragically, two helicopters collided today in CA, killing 7 Marines. My heart goes out to their families, and their fellow Marines, in this terrible, terrible tragedy. My deepest sympathies to them all, and to us, for losing 7 Marines here at home. Semper fidelis…

123 thoughts on “Meanwhile, Over In Iran… *Open Thread*”

  4. yttik says:

    “But this is nuts. People are animals, too, not for nothing. And committing murder is so far from making one’s point, it is not even on the same planet.”

    Some people really do just go insane under the guise of animal rights, environmental rights, global warming. I think it’s some kind of psychological disorder, but I don’t know what to call it. It’s one thing to care passionately about various issues, but we all know there’s some people that seem to take it one step farther until they go right off a cliff.

    Some people on the Left don’t seem to get this distinction, like they have no boundaries or something. I’m thinking of some of the praise for OWS vandalism or calling terrorists “freedom fighters,” or praise for Bill Ayers or something. C’mon people it doesn’t matter how noble you perceive the cause to be, it’s pretty much never okay to hurt innocent bystanders or destroy people’s property. That kind of behavior has no place in a democratic and relatively free society.

    Reply
    • Ferd Berfle says:

      A lot of people don’t seem to understand the concept of boundaries–like the difference between my wallet and theirs; my property and theirs; and my needs and theirs. Boundary issues should be a subject for psychiatry to take on, starting with the proggies.

      Reply

  6. What keeps escaping all the media is the soldiers were ordered to burn the Koran, they didn’t just do this for shits and giggles. But the real deal is this, those low animals who claim to be humans in extremist muslim garb, wouldn’t be satisfied until someone is dead; who knows maybe Obama will apologize next that they couldn’t kill more people.Let me be about as plain as I can, It tempts me greatly to have my own BBQ of inanimate texts written by men, acting on behalf of God, photos included. I am sick to f-ing death of being forced to be cowered by the low, lizard brains of these knuckle dragging mindless cultists-that is all they are; Bullies being allowed to continue to bully the world; they start with women and children, and those who are ill, I can’t even discuss what is done to animals by these insane cultists, why is the “F” would anyone ever consider an apology would calm them down? It’s like a “f-ing” aphrodisiac giving them a permanent state of ecstasy over the only thing that gets them off-KILLING. That isn’t religion or faith; that is addiction to temper oriented tumescence.

    Reply
    • Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy says:

      What I would like to know is: WHO TOLD THEM that the Korans were burned?? HOW did they even get the information from inside a military base?? That’s what I would like to have investigated, rather than the soldiers who were doing their jobs and destroying conveyors of extremist messages (the notes in the book).

      I heard Gen. Keane talking abt this yesterday, abt how it is hard for us to wrap our minds around how important this sacred text is to them. I still do not think it is more worthy than a human life. And not for nothing, but MOHAMMAD did not want his words written down. Why? Because he feared they would be taken out of context. So to treat this written text as more sacred than a human life I would venture to say would horrify the prophet who didn’t even want his words on parchment…

      Reply

  8. I am not clear on what happens during the republican convention as to can there be a battle there between the candidates left? Can new candidates enter in at that time and steal away delegates? someone please explain to me, how this works, this is m first go round on the republican side to this level, invested and registered now as a Republican.

    Reply
    • yttik says:

      The primary rules for the RNC are about as crazy as the rules for the DNC. In theory there could be a brokered convention and even a completely new candidate chosen. It’s not likely, but it’s happened before.

      Republicans have the same kind of system as Dems, candidates run around the country trying to collect pledged and unpledged delegates through primaries and caucuses. But it’s not that simple, because there are rules and bylaws, so for example, Florida could be penalized for having an early primary and lose half their delegates or more. Also there are state rules, so some states have non binding delegates who can change their mind at any time. Then there are the delegates that were earned by a candidate who has since dropped out of the race and how they will be redistributed.

      Reply

      • Thanks, I didn’t realize it was the same, uh duh! So a candidate could come in, and actually not have to go through the ringer, bypass the media crap, and then just go at Obama? Move over boys, where the hell is Sarah????

        Reply
        • yttik says:

          Yes! I think Palin is just what this country needs, but the problem is that in order to be nominated without having run the primary gauntlet, you’d have to have overwhelming support from the people and also the party elite. Enough of the delegates would have to be willing and procedurally able to change their vote and support Palin. Plus the other candidates themselves would have to be willing to relinquish their delegates. It’s unlikely, but it’s possible. Hillary Clinton actually won the popular vote and would have won the delegate count if the DNC rules and bylaws committee hadn’t taken her delegates away. So in theory Hillary was the Dem nominee, but the Dem party nominated Obama instead. Something similar could happen on the RNC side.

          Reply
  10. HELENK says:

    iowa hawk

    And lo, The Savior appeared before the multitudes ad feddeth them with a box of Trojans and 24 USDA school lunch chicken nuggets.

    Reply

  12. If someone has already posted this, my apologies.

    “Ann Frank Now Hiding From the Mormons”

    http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=121600

    Here it comes. We knew it was coming. I hope Mitt Romney can defend himself from the Mormon bigots, especially on stories like this because as it turns out he and his wife baptized Mitt’s atheist father-in-law under the Mormon doctrine; her father, who was absolutely dead set against converting to Mormonism.

    Reply
    • kinthenorthwest says:

      Abigail when I read that piece I was appalled..
      Although I am not really a Romney fan, I am wondering if this is some sort of set up on Romney…
      You will have to admit this will have some blaming this on the LDS church as a whole and then people will e thinking who can now trust Romney.

      Reply

      • Yes, K, I wonder too. But I know I’ve had conversations with a few people who knew this was inevitable. And you know those billboards and radio ads and so on that have been making their way into our consciousness for the past year–”I’m a Mormon”? There will be oppositional researchers for obama who will say that the Mormon church itself is behind Romney’s presidency. Oh yeah. They will make it into some sort of conspiracy that the LDS Church was softening up the electorate and that Romney is their puppet — as a way for the LDS church to take over leadership of the country.

        “Freedom Defense Advocates”, a PAC out of Lynchburg, VA, has a website and it’s all about “exposing Mitt Romney.” I don’t know where this statement has popped up on other sites, but here’s the conspiracy theory they are advancing: “The Mormon religion has “a plan that will see the Constitution thrown out and replaced by a theocracy.”" It’s the same group that dogged him in his ’08 campaign.

        The apparent guy behind this PAC is John Boyd, (Ph.D.). I guess he thinks the Ph.D. behind his name lends credence to this: http://www.exposemittromney.com/letter.html

        Knowing what we know about The Chicago Way, I would only be surprised if obama didn’t come along side someone like Boyd in order to promote this garbage. Unfortunately, people are so incurious about the sources of “news.”

        Reply

      • And I meant to respond also to your comment about Romney’s trustworthiness and the frankly odd practice of baptizing deceased people. Yeah, I don’t know. Personally, it did make me wonder a little. I mean, if you can trust the “news”, Mrs. Romney’s dad was the only one in their immediate family who voiced strong protest over converting to Mormonism and it seems to show a great deal of disrespect toward him to have baptized him despite his views — and after the fact of his death. Doesn’t this speak directly to the idea of someone thinking they “know better” what is “good” for us? I think that argument could be easily made — whether that was the Romney’s motivation or not. It just doesn’t look good.

        Reply
        • Ferd Berfle says:

          It isn’t so much a baptism as it is giving the deceased a “second chance”, as it were. It is a bit on the odd side but is harmless. At least that was how it was explained to me by a Bishop who was trying to convert me when my ex became a Mormon.

          As a side note, this ritual is why the church has such detailed genealogical records.

          Reply

      • Yep, I actually have written about this here,more than once, predicting this exact problem=and it is the first time I have seen it discussed at a national level-let alone beyond this blog.

        Reply

        • Oh, I’m sorry, Kat. I have been so busy with such odd work hours for the past couple weeks. I must have missed your posts or comments. And one of the “couple people” who have expressed this concern about the obama campaign coming after him on the subject of his religion was you — I just didn’t want to share that in case you hadn’t said anything here.

          Unfortunately, it’s a real no-brainer for Romney’s opposition, isn’t it? Even I initially expressed some doubt of it’s effectiveness, but this story sort of made me see the light on that score. The problem is, it is a really hard religion to defend on the basis of what everyone thinks they know and what everyone does know about its history and even the more recent stuff about their church’s fundie fringe. Doesn’t help at all with weird tee vee shows like “Sister Wives.”

          Reply

          • True that; but even though it is an easy attack it is so wrong.(I know you aren’t saying that), I agree the tee vee stuff with Mormon extremes isn’t helpful, and back when i wrote the post, I thought he would be easy pickens on this for the very reason that Christians are easy pickens by the Dems and the President, being Christian is only cool for the cool kids(dems) when it is convenient and popular to be so.Truly sickening

            Reply

  13. A fun piece of actual mail came today! Our Aerial Port Squadron out of McChord AFB (now Joint Base Lewis McChord, sniff) started getting together again. Our first meetup was a couple springs ago and let me tell you, it was a hoot! It had been 20+ years since I’d seen so many of my fellow airmen. And the stories! Lordy, lordy! No one tells stories like ex-service members and fishermen. So much fun.

    Well, this next one is going to actually take place at the NCO club on base. Gosh, I haven’t been back on the base for years. I think I’m gonna cry. What a great group of guys and gals. I’m so looking forward to it.

    So, speaking of stories, let me share one with you:

    I was only about 21 years old when I joined the 52nd out of Mcchord. My CO was a guy about my height who had a 24 carat smile and a heart bigger than a mountain. George Bocci had that rare characteristic of making you feel like the most important person in the world. He had the same affect on everyone. We all loved him.

    Anyway. Once a month when Col. Bocci took the podium to deliver messages and conduct squadron business he would get a bigger-than-usual grin on his face, square himself up and say “The Awards Committee met last month and voted that Airman So-and-So (or Sgt. So-and-So) is awarded the outstanding Such-and-Such.” With that preamble, he would then unwrap the tissue off a plaque or a framed award (complete with pictures or whatever) and there would be a standing ovation for the squadron member who sheepishly (but excitedly) made their way up to front of the room to receive their award. There was a lot of handshaking and congratulations and passing the thing around so everyone could see it.

    Being new to the unit, I really didn’t know what to make of the whole thing. My former squadron commander never made these kinds of awards — outside the usual ribbon and device awards. I got Airman of the Quarter one time from my school squadron, but nothing like this. But it was nice and so I just congratulated the recipients like everyone else did. This went on for close to two years.

    Then one month the “Awards Committee” met and voted and decided that I should get an award! Holy cow! I can’t even describe how great it felt to be recognized by the “Awards Committee”! So I self-consciously made my way up to the front of the room, got all the slaps on the back and the handshakes and passed my award around — a framed number with a couple of “out take” pics of me goofing around or helping someone on the job — with a message written in fancy caligraphic letters. Really quite fancy! And then the practice continued for another couple years.

    But then it abruptly ended. You see, I got a call one day at the office and was told that our wonderful, loving commander had died suddenly from anaphylactic shock; the result of a new inhalant drug he was on for asthma. This wonderful, wonderful man, a husband and father of twelve adoring children, snatched away from us all at the tender age of 42. A guy who lit up the room and made you feel like the most important person in it. Colonel George Bocci, the “Awards Committee” had been making all those precious awards at home in his “spare” time. I’m not sure there were many people who knew that. I know I didn’t.

    They say that we outgrow the need for recognition and accolades. Not true. Not true. I’m so grateful to have had such a human in my life. As you might imagine, he was so much more to me and to our squadron than a CO. I’m glad I sat down tonight to write this story. It serves to remind me that a little recognition and a pat on the back costs so little to give, but blesses those who receive it so much.

    So, George, here’s to you. With love, from the “Awards Committee.”

    Reply
    • HELENK says:

      how wonderful to have had someone so special be a part of your life.
      You go to that reunion and have a great time and remember the good times and especially your squadron commander.

      thank you for telling us about him

      Reply

      • Thank you, HelenK. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again. I can’t believe it’s already been two years since we last saw each other. A hand-written note on the invitation reads, “Abigail, We found more “Old Timers” – Bob” (“Bob” was one of our senior NCO admins). It’s just a really good group of people. I’m so glad to have this association. I have no idea how many people came through the 52nd APS over the years, but it must have been many hundreds, maybe thousands. After George passed, I had two more COs. It was a tough gig for them, trying to fill the shoes of a guy who may have actually been somewhat shorter than me, but was as tall as a giant.

        Reply
    • Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy says:

      What a wonderful story, AA! Wow, what an incredible man, too. So kind, compassionate, and caring – I can see why everyone loved him so.

      Touching, touching story. And how tragic for his family, both the one at home, and the one of which you were a part…

      Reply

      • It really is a heart-warming story, isn’t it? The hilarious thing of it all was that no ever asked “Who in the heck is on the Awards Committee?” I’ve got my “award” safely tucked away in a trunk with all my other military paraphernalia. I need to print out a copy of this story and put it away with the award, because down the road no one will know the story behind it and think it was just an interesting relic from mom’s military past.

        It was very tragic for his family, but I suppose if anything good came out of it for them, it was that they had an entire Air Force Squadron of men and women devoted to their care, then and into their future.

        I don’t know if you’ve ever known someone who had that awesome quality of making everyone feel like a VIP, but it’s a real gift (from God, I think). I’ve been fortunate to know two men with that quality.

        Reply

  14. OK, we’re mellowing out tonight listening to the great Bonnie Tyler. This goes out to all you Mitten fans: Sometimes we fall in love and no one else understands. Oh the mood swings, the lashing out, it’s all because our hearts have been eclipsed by the awesomeness of the Mitt. Peace, friends…really:

    Reply

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