The Confederacy

The Confederacy seems to be in the news lately, so here's Lord Acton's thoughts on the subject, expressed in a letter to General Robert E. Lee, after the war:

"I saw in State Rights the only availing check upon the absolutism of the sovereign will, and secession filled me with hope, not as the destruction but as the redemption of Democracy. The institutions of your Republic have not exercised on the old world the salutary and liberating influence which ought to have belonged to them, by reason of those defects and abuses of principle which the Confederate Constitution was expressly and wisely calculated to remedy. I believed that the example of that great Reform would have blessed all the races of mankind by establishing true freedom purged of the native dangers and disorders of Republics. Therefore I deemed that you were fighting the battles of our liberty, our progress, and our civilization; and I mourn for the stake which was lost at Richmond more deeply than I rejoice over that which was saved at Waterloo."

Lee replied:

"I yet believe that the maintenance of the rights and authority reserved to the states and to the people, not only essential to the adjustment and balance of the general system, but the safeguard to the continuance of a free government. I consider it as the chief source of stability to our political system, whereas the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it."

I'd say that was prescient.

LSP

Baltimore Mayor Attacked by Lacheisha!

Baltimore Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, was attacked this morning by Lacheisha Pailin-Sheffer at the Mondawmin Festival. Lacheisha poured a cup of water on Rawlings-Blake and was dragged off to jail by the Mayor's special guards.

Baltimore has been plagued by residents not paying for their water.As of March, 25,000 thirsty customers owed the City some  $40 million in unpaid bills. So Rawlings-Blake decided toturn off the spigot, leading to 150 shut-offs a day in April. 

Detroit has a problem with unpaid water bills, too.

Weird, eh?

LSP 

Backyard Blasters

It's important to keep your shooting skills honed, so it makes sense to set up a range in your back yard, a BB gun range.

Hours of fun and the ammo is cheap. Just be careful that your Blue Heeler doesn't try and eat the speeding BBs in mid-air...

Cheers,

LSP

Easy There, Cowboy! Tortillas?

You don't have to eat all of your delicious Mexican breakfast of Huevos Rancheros, although it's hard not to. No, sometimes you can leave the tortillas and take them home for later, which is what we did this morning.

I was looking forward to those tortillas, so imagine my surprise to find the elder, and supposedly more responsible, recruit stretched out on his rack with  a Kindle Fire and a white, polystyrene box.

Tortillas?

"Did you eat all the tortillas?" I asked quietly, with a certain degree of menace, while looking at the white box. "Er, yes."

"Tell me, if you're living with other people, is it better to be more considerate, or less considerate?"

"More considerate."

"So. Is it more, or less considerate, to eat the house supply of tortillas?"

"Less considerate."

"Correct. I'm relieved to find your logic circuits still working, despite their momentary lapse."

Go On, Drink Some Water

Sheepish tortilla grins over and forgiveness issued, I discovered the youngest recruit hunting for squirrels in the back yard, with a Daisy. Maybe he'll beat the opposition and we can eat some squirrel.

Rounds down range,

LSP

Start Young

I think it's important to start them off young, so I took two recruits out to the range today for a spin on the ARs and pistols.

Seriously Loading

They shot well, which made me proud, and now they're walking Blue Armageddon, who successfully managed to kill a small chicken yesterday.

Shoot!

I've turned the diminutive bird into poppers, much to the fascination of the youngsters. "How did you learn to do that?" they asked, wonderingly. "Ah hah!" I replied, with great wisdom.

We'll eat those poppers in a bit.

Cheers,

LSP

Airborne Forever...

I seem to spend most of my time in airports these days. Some are better than others and Terminal E at DFW is in a constant state of turmoil and construction. Avoid it, if you can.

When I'm not in an airport, which is rarely, I walk my dog. He is fierce and loyal.

God bless,

LSP

Back in Texas -- Happy 4th of July!

I'm back in Texas now, in the countryside, and it's good to be back after the writing challenge that was the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. 

I managed to write a quick article at the airport, accusing the iniquitous TEC of "systemic racism," and then it was over, mission accomplished.

As I write this in depth "thought piece" a very small white chicken is pecking about in my back yard. It escaped, somehow, from its colleagues next door.

Have a great 4th of July!

LSP

Africans Rip The Episcopal Church

I've enjoyed being at the Episcopal Church's General Convention in Salt Lake City, even though I'm not part of the dwindling denomination and disagree with it almost entirely.

It was especially neat to climb into the press room and discover that the primates of the Global South had rebuked the small but richly gay denomination.

Via Virtueonline:

In a July 2 statement, Primates of the Global South, representing over two thirds of the worldwide Anglican Communion, ripped into the Episcopal Church, accusing it of deliberately rejecting the Communion's teaching on human sexuality and acting without regard for the well-being of the Anglican Communion and the mission of the Church writ large.

You can read the whole thing here, and if you do, wonder at the irony of the whitest group of anti-racists ever, telling Africans how to live.

What's the phrase, white privilege?

Back to Texas tomorrow,

LSP

Katharine Jefferts Schori Tribute

Katharine Jefferts Schori, who has been called a "boy bishop," a "rock star," and a "bishop," got a stirring tribute the other day from the floor of her church's General Convention in Salt Lake City.

Here's what some of her admirers had to say, via Virtueonline:

Hot

The newly elected Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, declared, "She was the Presiding Bishop this church needed for the last 9 years," and not only "called us to maturity in Christ," but had a "forceful, prophetic voice." Curry went on to extol Jefferts Schori as "deeply wise, quiet yet strong. That word has become flesh in Katharine Jefferts Schori."

Sexy

The Bishop of Connecticut, Ian Douglas, was also glowing in his praise for the Presiding Bishop, saying that she had "deep wisdom, acuity, compassion" and worked for "reconciliation and restoration."

Not to be outdone, the Bishop of Los Angeles, Jon Bruno, described the departing leader of the Episcopal Church as "a woman of power, courage, and strength" as well as "vitality," and "wisdom."

Fraud

That's our Schori! You can read the whole thing here, and as you do, ponder the $40++ million Jefferts Schori has authorized in litigation during her tenure.

Your Friend,

LSP

Is the Episcopal Church a Frothing Water Feature?

Is the Episcopal Church a frothing water feature? Foaming attractively for the amusement of shoppers in the mallspace of American religion but going, ultimately, nowhere?

Here's the Dean of Virginia Theological Seminary, Ian Markham, gushing from General Convention about the Episcopal Church:

"So why is this General Convention going to be historic? It is because we offer a “product” that our age needs and wants; the immediate cultural war is coming to an end; and we now have leadership in the Church that is ready to be imaginative about our programming for the future. I am confident that in 50 years’ time, the General Convention of 2015 will be the moment that historians identify as the turning moment in the fortunes of The Episcopal Church."

This is Markham foaming about culture:

"now The Episcopal Church is where the majority of Americans are (especially the younger demographic). Large evangelical megachurches are very aware of how they will alienate the young if they are too overtly hostile to the inclusion of gays and lesbians. Being pro-gay is good in modern America; and as we have seen with the Supreme Court decision last week, the affirmation of equality embedded in the American story from its founding finally reaches our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."

Right on, Ian. All the secular liberals and the people that just don't care are going to start flocking to your gay church. Really? Just like they did with the ordination of women? Maybe you remember how that was going to fill the pews, and dismally didn't.

The Episcopal Church has lost over a quarter of its worshiping attendance in the last decade, some 200,000 people. Let's see if Markham's froth and foam will turn that around.

Your Pal,

LSP

The Mind of the House of Bishops Bonking

I went searching for the mind of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church, and I found it in an atrium, in Salt Lake City.

A Bonking Wind Chime

I heard bonking, somewhere up above me, and looked up. There it was! The mind of the House of Bishops!

The House of Bishops

The bonking wind chimes have just passed Resolution A036, making the marriage canons of their church gender neutral.

Well done, team.

LSP

Irenicon

OK, that's enough Rainbow Unicorn awesomness for now. Here's sa pic from Salt lake City instead. I like the covered malls downtown and think it's a neat use of space.

Speaking of which, everyone seems happy in the mallspace. Perhaps that's because they're rich, or they haven't checked the prices, or maybe they're just happy to be knocking about.

Whatever the case, have a blessed Sunday.

I'm off to church.

LSP