Jesus or Buddha?

The eyes of humanity will truly be opened when it remembers the dying words of Jesus Christ “forgive them father, for they know not what they do”.

Rather you believe in God, a higher power, Buddha, science or your inner self the truth of the matter is that men are a far ways from being socially or intellectually evolved.

We murder each other over our man made values. Such as religion, statues, faith, land, power, wealth, and money. All values which in the end will have no worth.

The Price of Gas

The Price of Gas

I find it ironic that now after the Congressional elections the price of gas is going right back up. Damn “blue-eyed devils” in charge of the oil companies in cahoots with George W. Bush. [God bless freedon of speech].

Corporations today seem to have no regard for the common good. Why do the CEO’s find it necessary to drive these exorbitant profits draining the pockets of people needing that money for other things. (That’s a statement, not a question).

All you rich folk will say there aren’t many people in that boat, well I sure as hell am.

If I met the President of Exxon I would slap him across the face!

Economic Divide in America

Lets remember all the littlle boys and girls that Santa forgot this holiday season.

Marines Charged in Haditha Case

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) -- Eight Marines were charged Thursday in the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians last year during a bloody, door-to-door sweep in the town of Haditha that came after one of their comrades was killed by a roadside bomb.

In the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war, four of the Marines -- all enlisted men -- were charged with unpremeditated murder.

The other four were officers who were not there during the killings but were accused of failures in investigating and reporting the deaths.

The most serious charges were brought against Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, a 26-year-old squad leader accused of murdering 12 civilians and ordering the murders of six more inside a house cleared by his squad. He was accused of telling his men to "shoot first and ask questions later," according to court papers released by his attorney.

The highest-ranking defendant was Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, 42. He was accused of failing to obey an order or regulation, encompassing dereliction of duty.

At a news conference to announce the charges, military officials would not say what they believe prompted the killings. But investigators have raised the possibility that the men went on a rampage in a fury over the roadside bombing that killed Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas of El Paso, Texas, and wounded two other Marines.

Defense attorneys have disputed that, saying their clients were doing what they had been trained to do: responding to a perceived threat with legitimate force.
Terrazas' father denounced the charges, saying his son was murdered by insurgents. "What they are doing to our troops ...it's just wrong," Martin Terrazas said in Texas. "I feel for their families. They are in my prayers."

Wuterich and two comrades charged with murder could get life in prison. The military is not seeking the death penalty. The other men face shorter prison sentences.
The Marine Corps initially reported that 15 Iraqis died in a roadside bomb blast and that Marines killed eight insurgents in an ensuing firefight. That account was widely discredited, and later reports put the number of dead Iraqis at 24.

A criminal probe was launched after Time magazine reported in March, citing survivor accounts and human rights groups, that innocent people were killed.

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, commanding general of the Marine Corps Central Command, said Thursday that the Corps' initial news release, which stated that the civilians in Haditha had been killed by an improvised explosive device, was incorrect.

"We now know with certainty that the press release was incorrect, and that none of the civilians were killed by the IED explosion," Mattis said.
As word spread that charges were imminent, some Iraqis said Thursday that American troops should face justice in Iraq.

"They committed a horrible crime against innocents," Naji al-Ani, a 36-year-old laborer, said by telephone from Haditha.

Other residents of Haditha agreed.
"Are they terrorists or are they fighting terrorism?" said Jamal al-Obaidi, a 40-year-old teacher. "The trial is not fair
because it is taking place in America. Executing them is the minimum penalty."
Besides Wuterich, Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, 24, was accused of the unpremeditated murders of five people and making a false statement. Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 22, of Carbondale, Pa., was charged with the unpremeditated murder of three Iraqis. Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, 25, of Edmond, Okla., was accused of the unpremeditated murders of two Iraqis, negligent homicide of four Iraqis and assault.

The other officers charged were 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, 25, Capt. Lucas McConnell, 31, and Capt. Randy Stone, 34, a military attorney.

The men are not being locked up for now because they are unlikely to flee and are not a danger to themselves or others, said Col. Stewart Navarre, a Corps spokesman.
In Meriden, Conn., Frank Wuterich's father, Dave, said his son was out Christmas shopping. The father said family members believe his son's version of events.

"He says they followed the rules of engagement," Dave Wuterich said. "They were taking small arms fire. They did what they had to do."

We need Clinton back in the West Wing

Thursday, December 07, 2006
Hillary leads the presidential pack
from Alexander Mooney-->

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A new poll shows Democrats favor Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, as their presidential candidate for the 2008 election. The survey was conducted by the Marist Poll for WNBC-TV in New York.

Question: "If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

Clinton: 33%
Edwards: 14%
Gore: 13%
Obama: 12%
Kerry: 5%
Biden: 3%
Undecided: 16%

Sample Size: 327 DemocratsMargin of error: +/-4.5%Polling Dates November 27 -- December 3, 2006

Comments: This poll is clearly baloney. Clinton will be the next President. Kerry & Edwards should not even be considered, they blew thier shot big. I will protest the DEM Convention if Kerry or Edwards are even options.

The Next President (s)

The Democratic Party has fallen into a routine of putting up weak candidates. I wonder if the leaders of the party in Florida and D.C. are being paid by the GOP to choose such candidates as John Kerry and Jim Davis.

Everyone in Florida could have told you Charlie Crist was going to beat Jim Davis from the start ,as member of the DEMS I am frustrated that we continue to waist our time & money on such campaigns.

Kerry & Davis were weak on the issues, that took stances on nothing, and did nothing significant in there time in Washington.

There are now 2 politicians that have records and statements on what they believe.

We need to run candidates like them.

Hilary R. Clinton and Barrack Obama.

Iraq is Over, Mr. President.

A Declaration of (Semi-Autonomous) Independence (Sort Of)
rightwingnuthouse.com
November 9, 2006

"The firing of Rumsfeld is a harbinger. The President stood before the American people less than two weeks ago and assured us that the Secretary of Defense would be there when he left office. How can we now believe him when he says that he is committed to further efforts to bring about a tolerable conclusion to our mission in Iraq?... If he has already decided to leave Iraq short of any outcome that could be considered advantageous to American interests, then every day that passes, every life lost, is a wasted effort in a losing cause and he should bring our people home now. "

Let’s just end this debacled War in Iraq today. The War was unjustified in the first place, the people of Iraq are rebelling against our occupation. Therefore in my eyes there is absolutely ZERO reasons for a single USA troop to remain in the free and sovereign country of Iraq.

Saddam Hussein is gone. That is a positive note to end this war.

And what next? Take the $90 Billion that would have been spent in Iraq just next year alone put it into Social Security, and creating a National Healthcare Program not just for seniors, but for all Americans (Hint at the future agenda of Checks & Balances).

"Whats up my Nigga"

Consigning the 'N' Word to Personal History

"As some African-American leaders call for a boycott of the racial epithet known as the 'N' word, Pendarvis Harshaw of Youth Radio starts a campaign of his own. (NPR)"

Discussion is open on the use of the “N” word. I never have and dislike hearing my brothers use it. I see a time of blacks moving into power in the United States. What purpose for advancing our people will be served by having the next generation of CEO’s referring to one another as “niggas”?

This is a habit of the African American community that should be shed, in my humble opinion.

deaf Students want a “say”

"In his first interview since student protests locked down the nation's only college for the deaf and hearing-impaired, the outgoing president of Gallaudet University decried the "divisive" tone of the demonstrations, and expressed disappointment at the outcome.

"It seemed to be against something instead of a protest for a reason or a cause," I. King Jordan said Wednesday. "It was against an individual, and that's why it was so divisive."
The protests ended with Gallaudet's decision to nullify the appointment of Jane Fernandes as the school's next president.

Among the students' complaints: Jordan groomed Fernandes as his successor, making the selection process less than open.
Jordan said he disagrees with that view.

"I'm very proud that I was her mentor," Jordan said. "She was an outstanding prospect and she was very highly qualified to be a president. I regret she wasn't given the chance."
In a wide-ranging discussion led by Neal Conan, Jordan also discussed his legacy as the first deaf president of the institution and touched on issues facing the deaf community today, including technological advancements such as cochlear implants and digital hearing aids."

NPR Reports:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6551118

Christians & Global Warming

Checks & Balances Blog has recently joined Christian Bloggers. We are happy to be in the mix.

The question now is if Christians are emphatic about being political involved, what issues they should focus upon. I do not believe the Christian communities’ political interest lies in being involved in personal & private health matters such the case of Terro Schiavo.

Our interest and the integrity of our faith would be best served by taking up Global Warming. One cannot ignore that God placed man on Earth to take care of what he created. Adam placed in the Garden of Eden was to be a steward of and have dominion over the planet.

Please notice the simplicity of this illustration. Adam was placed in a garden where it was God’s intention for man to reside for eternity.

What do I mean by “integrity of our faith”. Churches walk a thin line when getting involved in politics. And when many yes Churches teamed up to attempt to prevent a husband, Michale Schaivo, from making the health decisions for his wife a line was crossed the Church should have gotten involved with. I specifically write of this matter because many churches were involved and the U.S. Congress wrongly moved to interfere. It must never be forgotten.

There however is no wrong to be found in a clear mission given by God, of being a steward of the earth.

God, the creator did not call for the destruction of his beloved Earth by men.

There is a tangible force pressuring us Christians to not buy this global warming talk. In the United States of America there has been a tidal wave of capitalists ideas that hold that the making of profits is more important that such things as fair market pricing and sustainable development. Just look at the Oil Industry.

Such capitalistic vies I cannot support. A balance must be found. Blindly developing, seeking growth and maximizing profits with no ‘moral control’ are not the Christian way.

Just my humble opinion.