November 13, 2006

• This week, and last week...

  Last week = Election week.  Being loud & opinionated, I have things to say about it.

  I'm still disappointed that Rick Perry (be sure to read the Talk Page, too, if you click that link) won.  I'm embarrassed that he represents the State of Texas and Texas A&M University.  Why couldn't the first Aggie governor be well-spoken, not a slave to his party, and not an all around...I dunno...waste of good oxygen?  I do think that, although Kinky didn't win, he certainly was a breath of fresh air and the reason that a lot more people voted this time around than four years ago.

  I'm also still upset that W. tapped Dr. Gates to be Sec.Def. in Rumsfeld's place.  Don't get me wrong - I do not care for Rumsfeld at all and am glad he is leaving, but I am afraid that we are moving Dr. Gates from a position (President of Texas A&M) where he could and was having a major impact, to a position where W. is still Commander in Chief and still the one running the war.  Gates is arguably the best president of A&M since Rudder, and has implemented a lot of new policies that are crucial for keeping A&M a competitive institution of higher learning.  Most importantly, he has had the cojones to stand up to the former and current students who are so incredibly resistant to change.  Hopefully we can find someone else with as much...I don't know...foresight and strength of character to replace him.

  For those of you unfamiliar with Gates, rest assured that if anyone can "fix" the situation in Iraq, it is certainly him.  He is intelligent and thoughtful, and works hard to explore all sides of an issue before making a decision.  I don't believe he has made a single rash decision in his time at A&M.  (In fact, he has formed more task forces than you can count...)  All those years in the CIA, he was an analyst, not a spy, and so he knows to examine every last detail to come up with the best solution.  And he's not afraid of making an unpopular decision if it is the right one.  I realize that sounds a lot like W., but Gates is about 1000 times more intelligent, and bases his decisions on facts, not feelings.  Also, he's just a pretty cool guy.

  Here's to hoping that W. will no longer be able to cruise along with his party in power, and will actually have to make some intelligent decisions and compromise with the Democrats.  I do believe he is capable of that.  Although Pelosi is a tad bit too liberal for my taste, I do think it will be pretty sweet to have a female Speaker.  Let's see if the Democrats can do a better job than the G.O.P. has been doing lately...

  ---

  Addendum:  Another thing I want to talk about.  Elton John's recent statement on religion kinda pissed me off.  Possibly he should explore different religions and their beliefs on the issue.  For example, from the PCUSA General Assembly in 1978:

  Persons who manifest homosexual behavior
  must be treated with the profound respect and pastoral tenderness
  due all people of God. There can be no place within the Christian
  faith for the response to homosexual persons of mingled contempt,
  hatred, and fear that is called homophobia.

  Homosexual persons are encompassed by
  the searching love of Christ. The church must turn from its
  fear and hatred to move toward the homosexual community in love
  and to welcome homosexual inquirers to its congregations. It
  should free them to be candid about their identity and convictions,
  and it should also share honestly and humbly with them in seeking
  the vision of God's intention for the sexual dimensions of their
  lives. . . .
  

  
  I would venture to say that, contrary to what he says, some religions (or denominations, in this case) in fact promote acceptance of gay people.  Although "It seems to be contrary to the teaching
  of scripture, [and] it seems to repudiate the heterosexual process
  which gave us life...The church...should be open to more light on what goes into
  shaping one's sexual preferences and reexamine its life and
  teaching in relation to people who are seeking affirmation and
  needing acceptance and who are apparently not free to change
  their orientations."   So maybe Elton John needs to read up a little bit before he makes sweeping statements.  I for one won't be purchasing his albums anymore.

  (All of those quotes are from this webpage, a section of PCUSA's Presbyterian 101 Guide to Social Issues, which is quite interesting to read.)
  
  

  • 1:34 pm
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