Politics | Ain't Complicated

MCC Iran Silence

Should the Mennonite Central Committee be silent on Iran?

As a Christian and a conservative Mennonite (the latter of which MCC isn’t, by the way), I say they shouldn’t make any political statements regarding the unrest in Iran.

Alas, they have not kept silence when it comes to Israel’s “mistreatment” and “oppression” and so forth of Palestinians. Nor have they kept silence when it has come to saying good things about Iran’s leadership.

Therefore, it seems the folks at CAMERA make a good point:

When it comes to rehabilitating his image in the United States, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad can count on the Mennonite Central Committee for assistance.

The organization has sponsored two dinners and an interfaith pilgrimage to Tehran during which Christian leaders have met with the Iranian President and offered kind words about the man afterwards.

Now that events demonstrate that Ahmadinejad is the public face of a brutal regime willing to suppress the people it governs, the organization has fallen silent.

After more than two days of protests and violence in Iran, the MCC has not published any statement about the organization on its website, nor does it have any plans to.

Even though I don’t identify with MCC, I still cringe at that kind of negative publicity seared to the the term Mennonite. 🙁

Oh, the above-quoted story is dated June 15. I just probed the MCC site and found no current Iran-related statement.

Maybe MCC has turned over a new leaf and has decided to stay out of politics. If that is the case, I commend them for that.

(Your) Cash for (My) Clunkers

Just so you know, I have three clunkers. All of them have over 200,000 miles on them. And two have over 300,000!

I’d take $3000 for any of them.

(I think I would, that is. I suppose the best way to test that is for you to make me an honest offer! )

If I were to have the opportunity to do so, should I participate in the government’s cash for clunkers program?

A so-called “cash for clunkers” measure approved by the US Congress could help reignite sluggish auto sales, although the overall impact may be modest, analysts and industry officials said.

[…]

The bill will provide up to 4,500 dollars in incentives to consumers who trade in certain fuel-hungry vehicles for autos which consume less fuel.

Edmunds.com, an automotive research firm, estimates that the measure will spark relatively modest sales — probably less than the 250,000 estimated — and would only provide an incentive for a small number of car owners whose vehicles are worth less than 4,500 dollars.

“Most qualifying ‘clunkers’ are at least 10 years old. Their owners are either not looking for an increased car payment or cannot afford to purchase a new vehicle, which averages nearly 30,000 dollars,” an Edmunds.com report said.

[…]

To qualify, the vehicle traded in must have a fuel economy rating of 18 miles (29 kilometers) per gallon (3.8 liters) and be in drivable condition. The new car must offer at least 22 miles (35 kilometers) per gallon.

So…does new mean brand new?

Or could I take the government’s (that is, your) $4500 for my 1983 Chevy van and use it for a new-to-me rig (say a Chevy Suburban) even if it’s five years old?

This Is News?!

More importantly, is it news that the average American cares about?

And even more important than that, do you care about this?

The National Security Agency is facing renewed scrutiny over the extent of its domestic surveillance program, with critics in Congress saying its recent intercepts of the private telephone calls and e-mail messages of Americans are broader than previously acknowledged, current and former officials said.

Then there’s this later in the story:

it is unavoidable that some innocent discussions of Americans will be examined.

Do you mind if something you say or write is examined?

How about anything?

How about everything?

“Oh be careful little tongue…. Oh be careful little hands….”

Yeah, that’s part of a children’s song that I and you would be wise to follow.

Source: E-Mail Surveillance Renews Concerns in Congress

Iranian Birdies?

Look, I’m no gullible neophyte, OK? Maybe what I’m linking to is a set of shams.

But the idea of using Twitter this way is fascinating to me.

That was allegedly taken in Iran. (Click for larger image.)

And here are links to two Twitter-ers claiming to be in Iran: Change_for_Iran and persiankiwi.

May the Lord keep His people. And use them as lights in the night.

HT: WorldMagBlog

Nuke Woodburn?

The first comment on the following story says so:

Woodburn police say more than a dozen people, some of them gang members, got into a street fight late Thursday, sending one person to the hospital for stab wounds.

Source: Woodburn Police Respond to Large Street Brawl

Weird 🙄

(We used to live in Woodburn. We still do lots of business there. We like Woodburn.)

Anyway, here’s some Oregon news causing less of a flap:

In thousands of Oregon neighborhoods and condo buildings, covenants and other rules ban clotheslines, even from private backyards. Homeowners using clotheslines face threatening letters from their homeowners’ associations and potential fines — not to mention simmering tension with neighbors who consider hanging clothes an eyesore or an emblem of poverty.

[…]

A bill that may soon become law would prohibit homeowner associations and condo associations from banning clotheslines in areas maintained by individual homeowners. House Bill 3090 cleared the Oregon House and could soon reach the Senate floor.

The effort joins others from Hawaii to Connecticut, where state lawmakers are caught in clothesline politics.

Source: Oregon legislation puts backyard laundry on the line

I’m all for clotheslines. In fact, we used them extensively in the past. I’ve even posted about them previously:

Bank It or Dump It?

Time to do some armchair quarterbacking!

By way of introduction, here’s part of the story as reported by The Oregonian:

When times are tight and people are hungry, any kind of waste — even the deep-sixing of a truckload of junk food — is taboo.

That may explain why no one seems to want to take the blame for sending 2,000 cases of snack cakes to the landfill after a Little Debbie truck overturned on Oregon 217 late Monday.

Read the full story here: Oregon 217 crash sparks debate over wasted Little Debbie cakes

The Oregon Food Bank wanted that food.

So if the decision had been yours, what would have been done with that dumped treasure?

Oh, and while you’re at the article, be sure to read the comments — the comedians were out in force. 🙄

And speaking of comedians, here’s another wreck related story. Read it all

Pravda Perspective

Well, an editorial columnist’s anyway:

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

Pravda?! 😯

Would they know what they’re talking about?

Next what?

Whatever it may be, I am presently thankful for all the freedom and liberty and opportunity and plenty I’ve enjoyed almost my entire life.