Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Monday, August 29, 2016
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
Religious Hostility
Video
TRANSCRIPT
Religious diversity in America continues to increase, resulting in a shrinking Christian population. Not so long ago, the term "religious diversity" used to refer to a smorgasbord of Protestant groups. Not so much today.
Now it means Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and a host of other non-traditional classes, like atheists, humanists, skeptics, naturalists, wiccans and earth worshippers. This has come about, the great melting pot of religious identity, through two main channels: immigration is one. But the other much larger reason is the indifference of Christians about their own beliefs.
The effect, on the ground, of so many varied religious groupings is that formerly held firm religious beliefs start to be called into doubt. As those doubts become concretized, religious adherence fades away. And in the absence of religious conviction, whole worlds change.
For example, in the United States, which every day is becoming less and less religious than in days gone by, only about one third of young adults see Christianity as being fundamental to American identity. Sixty-six percent of senior citizens, however, see Christianity and America wedded together. The less religious diversity there is, the greater the adherence to your childhood faith. And the more religious diversity in a given area, the less adherence to your childhood faith.
Recently released rankings point to this fact. Mississippi is rated at the least religiously diverse state in the United States - 54 percent Baptist. Its constitution forbids an atheist from holding state office. On the other hand, Oregon is the state with most diversity in religion and is ranked near the bottom of states with the least religiosity.
In one way, all this is kind of common sense. The more you hang around people who challenge your beliefs, the more likely you are to lose your beliefs. The more you hang around people who are faithful, the stronger your faith and practice of it usually is.
This is why the political process matters. The aim of those who have instituted policies and laws over the years that have resulted in the weakening of the family has been to lessen the influence of religion in the culture, namely, Christianity.
The weaker a family is — meaning a family which does not hold religion as a major priority such as is often the case with single parents, divorced and remarried, and even to a degree, mixed religious marriage — the more susceptible the children are to being less religious and consequently more easily influenced by a more religiously diverse population.
This is exactly what we have been witnessing for decades now — a downward spiral, a cycle of less religious people enacting laws, which result in weaker families, which raise less religious children who are influenced by as well as influence the culture to be less religious ,which results in less religious people influencing the political process.
In the great marketplace of ideas, philosophy and religion, Christianity in general, and Catholicism specifically have failed to make a compelling argument. Christ has been essentially relegated to the status of an also-ran in the culture, as is evidenced by the culture's rejection of or indifference to almost every Christian precept of morality.
This has happened for the simple reason that Catholics became lukewarm about their faith. While the majority Protestants have really taken it on the chin in the past 20 years and are continuing to shrink, the relatively smaller population of Catholics will also begin to experience an unprecedented downturn in raw numbers.
Already we see this in the demographic of voters who self-identify as Catholic. Eight years ago they comprised 25 percent of the total electorate. Today, it's 22 percent. The shrinking has begun, just a little right now, but in another election cycle or two, we will be less one out of every five, and possibly one out of every six. But every other religion and even non-religion in America will be growing.
What kind of laws will the new majority be creating? What principles will guide their cultural decision-making processes? The clock is ticking, and there is not really much time left before the culture turns from indifferent to hostile. Such is the price of a lack of vigilance.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Pete on Obama
I had to take my vehicle to the mechanic the other day for service. The Service Manager, Pete, gave
me a ride home and on the way he told me his theory about the upcoming election and the next four years of U.S. government.
At first I thought it a bit farfetched. But as I listened to him it began to make sense, scary sense.
“I
believe that Hillary Clinton will win the election in November,” Pete
began. “Then, sometime between
November and January, Hillary will be indicted. The IRS is now
investigating the Clinton Foundation and the whole e-mail thing isn’t
over yet.”
“Once
under indictment she won’t be able to assume the Office of the
President in January. Tim Kaine,
who will not actually be the Vice President because neither he nor
Hillary have been inaugurated, cannot assume the Presidency.”
“The
Speaker of the House can’t move up to it because there is already a
sitting President and Vice
President. So President Obama, in an Executive Order citing “emergency
situation,” gives himself another four years in office is the only way
possible.”
Pete
believes Obama has been planning this for a while now, knowing he has
enough on Hillary to indict
her. Had the Attorney General indicted her based on evidence from the
FBI this plan wouldn’t have worked because the DNC would have quickly
come up with another candidate.
If
you think about it, it’s not that outrageous. Many people on the left,
including the President,
want Obama to stay another four years. The law prohibits him from being
re-elected so the only way he can do it is by declaring martial law and
suspending the election (which would be
a very negative thing for the country ) or to declare himself still
President because the elected candidate cannot assume her duties.
The latter makes more sense and is actually more feasible. And since it’s never been done before, it
would set a precedent that would be difficult to challenge.
Of
course, if Trump wins the election none of this is going to happen. But
what if Pete is correct?
Four more years of Obama and a mostly useless Republican House and
Senate would give Obama the time he needs to continue destroying
changing the country to fit his stated goals.
Qur'an, Eno, Byrne, Banned, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, 1981
Qur'an, Eno, Byrne, Banned, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, 1981, 3:49
https://youtu.be/ezGQX6RmmgY
"Way back when the record first came out, in 1981, it might have been '82, we got a request from an Islamic organization in London, and they said, 'We consider this blasphemy that you put grooves to the chanting of the Holy Book.' And we thought, 'Okay, in deference to somebody's religion, we'll take it off.' You could probably argue for and against monkeying with something like that. But I think we were certainly feeling very cautious about this whole thing. We made a big effort to try and clear all the voices, and make sure everybody was okay with everything. Because we thought, 'We're going to get accused of all kinds of things, and so we want to cover our asses as best we can.' So I think in that sense we reacted maybe with more caution than we had to. But that's the way it was.[28]"
Dahlen, Chris (2006-07-17). "Interviews: David Byrne". Pitchfork Media.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Atheists and Trump
-donald-trump-and-atheists
The entire American electorate is in massive flux and about to undergo the most significant change in the country's history.
If current trends hold or even accelerate by just a little, this may very well be the last election where a majority of voters will be white Christians — if not this election, certainly 2020. This is due to two large factors: the decline of the Protestant majority and the rise of the religiously unaffiliated, also known as "nones."
The nones, at least many of them, while claiming to be "spiritual" are functionally and in practice atheists. They are a-theist not so much in their cores but in their lives, where it really matters after all. We have said at various times that Protestantism leads to atheism, and here are reports back from the political front lines proving the truth of that statement.
Up until about the past 10 years, the bulk of the decline among white Protestants was largely among more liberal mainline Protestants, like Methodists, Episcopalians or Presbyterians. Since the re-election of Ronald Reagan in 1988, their numbers have been cut nearly in half to just 14 percent of the overall population.
But more surprising, in the last 10 years, there has also been a notable decline among the more conservative branch of white Protestantism —Evangelicals. Since the end of Ronald Reagan's last term in 1988, they have dropped from 22 percent to just 17 percent. Add both those Protestant camps together and you get just 31 percent of the electorate.
What's driving the decline over the past generation? The rise of the younger generation, 34 percent of which identify as unbelievers — not affiliated with any religious body at all.
It doesn't take a genius to look at the numbers here. A larger percentage of millennials — 34 percent — are unaffiliated with any religion than the the overall percentage of white Protestants — 31 percent — relative to the population. All this volatile mixture needs is a little more time, perhaps one more election cycle, before white Protestant voters lose their majority status. And then, by the time, today's millennials are in their forties, they will be the majority — and you need to stop and think about that for a moment.
What is looming just over the horizon, politically and culturally speaking, is a nation where Christians are the minority, and cultural atheists are the majority. And this is owing precisely to the Protestant ethos of the rule of the exaltation of the individual. All of Protestantism is built on this principle — the principle of individual interpretation of Scripture, of individual personal relationship with Jesus, unmediated by the Church.
Protestantism eventually gives way to atheism, because philosophically, it is atheism. What, after all, is atheism? It is a-theism, no God. What does Protestantism, with its me-centered theology, produce? That you become your own God. You determine your morality. You determine the meaning of Scripture. You determine your own theology. There is no longer room for God, because the individual assumes the throne — kind of the working definition of atheism.
So what is most surprising in the case of Donald Trump is his strategy of going after the white Christian vote — which he is getting. Political strategists and Monday morning quarterbacks say this is why Romney lost last time around. He formed a strategy around capturing the white Protestant vote — which he did, and he lost. Why?
Because there weren't enough white Protestant voters to carry the day compared to all the other voting blocks. Romney lost because he was playing out of Ronald Reagan's playbook from a generation before. But time had passed him by. This is why there is panic in the smoking rooms of the Republican establishment. Trump is playing from the exact same playbook — and getting the exact same results.
When Obama said publicly that America is not a Christian nation, he was right. That ideal of American nostalgia died with the Reagan era. A new world order is sweeping across America, and it is the result of Protestantism following through to its natural conclusions. American Catholics, especially leaders, had a very small window in the 1950s where they could have prevented all this, and they failed to understand it.
And now, Catholics are going to begin paying the price for that failed leadership.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Namewee, Oh My God
An ethnic Chinese rapper in Malaysia has been detained for allegedly insulting Islam in his latest music video.
https://youtu.be/12Xh5pK_zQ0
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Hillary's Islamist
Hillary's Islamist
/huma-abedin-worked-at-a-radical-muslim-journal-for-10-years
The journal pinned blame for the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, the Post said, adding that it has published articles saying single moms, working moms and gay couples with children shouldn’t be recognized as families and that revealing dress “directly translates into unwanted results of sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility.”
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Islamist Immigration Already Banned
The Immigration and Nationality Act passed June 27, 1952 revised the laws relating to immigration, naturalization, and nationality for the United States. That act, which became Public Law 414, established both the law and the intent of Congress regarding the immigration of Aliens to the US and remains in effect today. Among the many issues it covers, one in particular, found in Chapter 2 Section 212, is the prohibition of entry to the US if the Alien belongs to an organization seeking to overthrow the government of the United States by “force, violence, or other unconstitutional means.” This, by its very definition, rules out Islamist immigration to the United States, but this law is being ignored by the White House.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Artificial Intelligence
Frankenstein
1. Terasem Movement Foundation: Welcome to the TMF, Inc. http://www.terasemmovementfoundation.com 2. Copeland, B. (2010, May 1). What is Artificial Intelligence? Retrieved July 29, 2015 from http://www.alanturing.net/turing_archive/pages/reference%20articles/what%20is%20ai.html 3. www.coursera.org
Monday, August 15, 2016
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
‘Am I not speaking English?’ Reporters grill State Dept over Clinton emails
English
Cf. http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-uncovers-new-batch-hillary-clinton-emails/
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Black UCLA
In this tedious video the young man laments the lack of achievement of the group he identifies with: black (although he is half black and half Chinese). Two suggestions: spell correctly, and tell the young man with the "Dope" hat to take it off. You might be taken more seriously as an academic as a result.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Friday, August 5, 2016
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Ian Hunter Fall Tour
30 Sep 2016 – Helsinki, Hudson NY, Friday
Club Helsinki HudsonHudson, NY9:00 PM / 6:00 PM Doors
01 Oct 2016 – Infinity, Hartford CT, Saturday
No start time listed
02 Oct 2016 – Narrows Center, Fall River MA, Sunday
04 Oct 2016 – Newton Theatre, Newton NJ, Tuesday
06 Oct 2016 – Bell House, Brooklyn NY, Thursday
07 Oct 2016 – City Winery, New York NY, Friday
Show 8 pm
08 Oct 2016 – Ardmore, Philadelphia PA, Saturday
10 Oct 2016 – The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
11 Oct 2016 – City Winery, Chicago IL
12 Oct 2016 – City Winery, Chicago IL
14 Oct 2016 – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH
15 Oct 2016 – Town Ballroom, Buffalo NY, Saturday
01 Oct 2016 – Infinity, Hartford CT, Saturday
No start time listed
Infinity Hall Hartford
32 Front Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: 860.560.7757
Phone: 860.560.7757
Narrows Center for the Arts
16 Anawan Street
Fall River, MA 02721 - 508-324-192616 Anawan Street
NARROWSCENTER.ORG
SUN 10.2
Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm04 Oct 2016 – Newton Theatre, Newton NJ, Tuesday
06 Oct 2016 – Bell House, Brooklyn NY, Thursday
07 Oct 2016 – City Winery, New York NY, Friday
Show 8 pm
08 Oct 2016 – Ardmore, Philadelphia PA, Saturday
The Ardmore Music Hall
23 East Lancaster Ave
Ardmore, PA23 East Lancaster Ave
Saturday Oct 8, 2016
Doors: 7:30 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
11 Oct 2016 – City Winery, Chicago IL
12 Oct 2016 – City Winery, Chicago IL
14 Oct 2016 – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH
15 Oct 2016 – Town Ballroom, Buffalo NY, Saturday
Immigration Ban
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (Pub.L. 82–414, 66 Stat. 163, enacted June 27, 1952), also known as the McCarran–Walter Act, restricted immigration into the U.S. and is codified under Title 8 of the United States Code (8 U.S.C. ch. 12). The Act governs primarily immigration to and citizenship in the United States. It has been in effect since December 24, 1952.
The Act was sponsored by two Democrats; H.R. 5678 was named after its sponsors, Senator Pat McCarran (D-Nevada), and Congressman Francis Walter (D-Pennsylvania).
Speaking in the Senate on March 2, 1953, the Democrat, McCarran, said (Senator Pat McCarran, Cong. Rec., March 2, 1953, p. 1518):
In fact, Federal law does permit a president to ban those who are deemed security risks from entering the country. The relevant passage states:
"Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. Whenever the Attorney General finds that a commercial airline has failed to comply with regulations of the Attorney General relating to requirements of airlines for the detection of fraudulent documents used by passengers traveling to the United States (including the training of personnel in such detection), the Attorney General may suspend the entry of some or all aliens transported to the United States by such airline."
Cf. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182
The Act was sponsored by two Democrats; H.R. 5678 was named after its sponsors, Senator Pat McCarran (D-Nevada), and Congressman Francis Walter (D-Pennsylvania).
Speaking in the Senate on March 2, 1953, the Democrat, McCarran, said (Senator Pat McCarran, Cong. Rec., March 2, 1953, p. 1518):
I believe that this nation is the last hope of Western civilization and if this oasis of the world shall be overrun, perverted, contaminated or destroyed, then the last flickering light of humanity will be extinguished. I take no issue with those who would praise the contributions which have been made to our society by people of many races, of varied creeds and colors. ... However, we have in the United States today hard-core, indigestible blocs which have not become integrated into the American way of life, but which, on the contrary are its deadly enemies. Today, as never before, untold millions are storming our gates for admission and those gates are cracking under the strain. The solution of the problems of Europe and Asia will not come through a transplanting of those problems en masse to the United States. ... I do not intend to become prophetic, but if the enemies of this legislation succeed in riddling it to pieces, or in amending it beyond recognition, they will have contributed more to promote this nation's downfall than any other group since we achieved our independence as a nation.America is the last hope of Western Civilization and if overrun by any creed (such as Islamism) or any race (i.e., Hispanic or others) that does not assimilate or are enemies of America the nation will decline as a result.
In fact, Federal law does permit a president to ban those who are deemed security risks from entering the country. The relevant passage states:
"Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. Whenever the Attorney General finds that a commercial airline has failed to comply with regulations of the Attorney General relating to requirements of airlines for the detection of fraudulent documents used by passengers traveling to the United States (including the training of personnel in such detection), the Attorney General may suspend the entry of some or all aliens transported to the United States by such airline."
Cf. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182
During the latest controversy over immigration, Khizr Khan spoke alongside his wife Ghazala Khan at the Democratic National Convention. On
behalf of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president,
Khizr Khan questioned Donald Trump’s policies on
immigration—specifically his plan to bar Muslim migration from regions
afflicted with rampant terrorism into America temporarily until the
United States can figure out the situation.
Khan
brought out a pocket Constitution, claiming inaccurately that Trump’s
plans were unconstitutional. That’s not true, as Congress has already
granted such power to the president under
the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952—allowing the president to
bar migration of any alien or class of aliens the president sees as a
threat to the United States for any reason at any time. Such a class of
aliens could be Muslims, or it could be people from a specific region of
the world, or any other class—such as someone’s race, weight, height,
age, national origin, religion, or anything else.
30 Day Scorecard for the Religion of Peace
List of Islamic Terror:
Last 30 Days
This is part of the list of Islamic terror attacks maintained by TheReligionofPeace.com.
During this time period, there were 141 Islamic attacks in 22 countries, in which 1165 people were killed and 1803 injured.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Monday, August 1, 2016
Muslims 50% More Air Time Than Benghazi Mom
Muslims 50% More Air Time Than Benghazi Mom
01/khizr-khans-trump-criticisms-receive-50x-more-time-pat-smith