Doublespeak

Like many of you I had to read George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four in high school. It was the first real dystopian work I had read, and it did not impress me. The ideas of Big Brother and doublethink and unpersons seemed like an awfully ridiculous concept. How naive I was. Today in America we are there. Big Brother actually does watch us. Far...

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What Works - Graphic Images

Over the years I have been involved in several discussions of whether to use graphic images in battling abortion. The poster child for this is the Center for Bioethical Reform. Even their home page has a graphic video (with a 7 second warning so you can stop it if you want, but you actually have to take action not to see the video). Their GAP (Genocide...

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Memorial for Whom?

Marched once again with my Boy Scout Troop in the Memorial Day parade. Aside from a very poor turnout of spectators, I was shocked when we carried the American flag past a group of "young men" who booed. It was hard explaining to the Cub Scouts why an American would boo an American flag, and I admit I didn't try. Why should I try to justify that...

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ProLife book

I recently joined a new social networking site. ProlifeBook,com. I certainly don't need another time vampire social media site, but I thought it might be a nice way to get some fresh ideas and network with others who are pro life. Sadly in the area where I live, although most people believe "personally" in respecting life, many give little thought...

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What works - Personhood

This is part 2 of a series on what works for pro lifers. The first was about fetal pain laws. So, personhood amendments. These are a great idea in theory, but I have yet to see one which passed. One problem I think is that the wording always leaves room for opponents to claim that it will lead to earthquakes and hurricanes. Colorado's says: Section...

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What works - fetal pain

I recently heard an argument that Governor Romney is pro life because he would support a "fetal pain" bill. I also have recently had several people tell me the good news about sonogram laws and "personhood" amendments. Let it be understood that I applaud all these efforts. I think protecting innocent life means protecting innocent life, by whatever...

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Relatively speaking

I don't know who came up with this, but a friend once told me about a curious custom. After reading a fortune cookie, say the words "in bed" and see how the wisdom becomes funny (and sometimes risque). For example: "A pleasant surprise is waiting for you...in bed." or "Your success will astonish everyone...in bed." It's gotten to the point where...

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Hate Speech

With all the anti-Christian Bullying by anti-bullying folks, I was thinking this morning about "hate speech". The claim of the bullies is that it is hate speech to tell someone they are going to hell. I'm almost inclined to agree (although I think the term "hate speech" is not helpful). In fact, it is un-Catholic to tell someone they are going...

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