An Aid To Memory

This weekend I will be able to eat my wings without coughing. I also won’t smell like I just walked by a campfire, and I may actually be able to see the people across the restaurant. Oh, and my lung’s won’t be filling with carcinogenic substances coming from someone else’s cigarette either. That is pretty sweet too. What am I getting at? Ohio’s smoking restriction has now begun.

To all Ohioans, when you enter a restaurant today, breathe in a little more deeply. It will feel pretty nice.

Bahrain recently held elections, and Islamists were swept into power, while more liberal and western candidates did poorly. And this is in a country that is our ally!

Does anybody notice a trend in the Middle East? Those countries that have had more open elections, thanks in part to Bush Administration pressure, have elected Islamist and/or hardline candidates? Remember how poorly the secular Iraqi Prime minister the US installed did in Iraq’s election? What about Hamas’ sweeping victory in the Palestinian territories? Has anybody thought that a “democratic Middle East” isn’t necessarily in the interest of the United States, and that what we mean by “democracy” only works after a culture has liberalized to a degree?

I have been staying up to see what happens tonight. Ever since I was in high school, I have always been interested in the election, even staying up way too late to catch the results. The first election I followed fairly closely was when the Republicans swept into Congress in 1994. Here are a few election night thoughts based on early reports.

This year, I think the Republicans are in trouble, at least in the House, but maybe the Senate. As a person who often votes Republican, I will save detailed comments for later, when I comment on what a mess the party has made of itself in the last few years, and the problems start from the very top.

This election seems to be about two things mainly: the war in Iraq and the economy. I notice that minimum wage increases are passing by huge majorities in the states that have them on the ballot, and exit polls indicate a deep dissatisfaction with president Bush and the War in Iraq. Perhaps the message to Republicans is that the middle class feels left out of this “strong economy” and is growing weary of fighting an expensive war of “liberation” for people that don’t want us there anyway. Also, associated with the economy are high gas prices and the rising cost of health care and college, and Republicans aren’t exactly seen as “with the common people” on these issues, but rather too snuggly to Big Oil and Big Pharma.

While the voters are sweeping the Democrats into power, this doesn’t necessarily seem to be an endorsement of liberal causes per se. Despite the fact that Ned Lamont beat Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary (thanks mostly to the far-left in the Democratic party), Lieberman has easily won his senate seat as an independent. Most of the state issues banning same-sex marriage are passing, an anti-affirmative action issue passed in Michigan, and an “English as official language” issue in Arizona was declared as passed by CNN before the voting was even over. Maybe all of the goings-on in this election do not constitute a “mixed message,” but rather indicate that both parties are basically out-of-touch with middle America.

Finally, in Ohio, the broad smoking ban (Issue 5) has passed and Issue 4, which would have allowed smoking in public places, failed. This is a pretty strong message that people do not want to breathe other people’s smoke in public. I think I will celebrate by getting some wings at BW3, and breathing in deeply, something I have been unable to do there in the past.

I was reading the Columbus Dispatch today, and they have come out in favor of the smoking ban, Issue 5, and against Issue 4. Apparently Issue 4, sponsored by the Tobacco Industry, allows smoking in “any privately owned facility not open to the public.” In theory, this means smoking could be permitted in restaurant kitchens, fireworks factories, or around hazardous materials. And guess what? There is nothing the Ohio legislature can do about it if Issue 4 passes. And those anti-smoking regulations your town voted in? Issue 4 would nullify these. So much for freedom of choice. I am not much into heavy regulation, but taking a plant, rolling it in paper, lighting it on fire, and then smoking it in public isn’t exactly quite as “inalienable” a right as is freedom of speech in my book. I know, I know, thousands of college students will look less cool in public if this happens. Thousands of our most prized partiers will head to Kentucky, especially those who “only smoke when they drink.” Yes, I am heartless, but at least I will retain my lung function.

My suggestion is still vote no on 4, yes on 5.

Here is the scoop on the Ohio Anti-Smoking Issues.

Issue 4:

- Keeps Smoking in Restaurants and most public places
- Overturns local anti-smoking measures
- Would prevent any new anti-smoking measures from passing
- Backed by Big Tobacco
- Voting Yes on Issue 4 would cancel out Issue 5

My Take: Vote NO

Issue 5:

- Bans Smoking in most public places
- Smokers will have to step outside to smoke
- Supported by various health groups

My Take: Vote YES

Issue 4 pretends to be a “smoke less” initiative, but it will not have this effect, because, if passed, this issue (sponsored primarily by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco) would overturn local anti-smoking ordinances across the state and prevent new ones from being passed. Plus, since Issue 4 is a proposed constitutional amendment, if it passes, it will nullify Issue 5, which polls show will likely easily pass. So don’t be fooled into voting for both Issue 4 and 5, because if Issue 4 passes by a few votes, Issue 5 fails, even if it passes 80-20.

Issue 5 is not an outright “smoking ban” but rather a proposed state law that makes smokers smoke in a place that will not affect those who have chosen not to smoke. Smokers would still be allowed to smoke on restaurant patios or in tobacco stores (and a few other exempted places). I honestly believe Issue 5 is a positive step for those of us concerned about health care costs and who don’t like to leave a restaurant smelling like we just sat around a campfire!

I know, I know, “smokers have rights,” and “let’s not regulate” and so forth. We are not talking about blacks on the back of buses or censorship of ideas, i.e. serious matters. I am simply suggesting that a person who lights a plant rolled in paper should do so outside. I could say “it’s about the children” but I don’t like inhaling smoke either, and I suspect non-smoking restaurant workers don’t like it either. In fact, a study in Scotland showed that restaurant and bar workers’ health improved after just one month of being in a smoke-free environment.

For more information, check out Smoke Free Ohio

It is going to be a politically correct Christmas this year…You can’t say "merry Christmas" in some stores. Santa Claus can’t be portrayed without his wife. Christmas trees are becoming "holiday trees." Schools are banning even instrumental versions of religious Christmas carols. In recognition of this, a new CD of politically correct Christmas carols has been released. Please check out this new CD! A track listing is below, with why the original song is defective in parentheses. The proposed album cover is on the left. Enjoy. If you like it, maybe we can propose a second volume.

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1. Good and Bad People of Faith Express Yourself with any Emotion You Prefer ("Good Christian Men Rejoice" doesn’t take into account people of all faiths, who are good and bad; the song also excludes women and those with depression, insisting everyone "rejoice.")

2. I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is heterosexist and assumes a heterosexual orientation for Santa Claus.)

3. O Holiday Shrub ("O Christmas Tree" is exclusively about Christmas and discriminates against plants besides trees)

4. Goddess Rest You Folk of All Temperaments ("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is misogynist and excludes those with psychological troubles who may not be able to be merry)

5. Wonderland of Any Climate you Prefer ("Winter Wonderland" discriminates against those in temperate climates)

5. Rusted Iron Bells ("Silver Bells" is too classist because it assumes one can afford silver)

6. O Stay Where You Prefer, All You Faithful and Unfaithful ("O Come All Ye Faithful" discriminates against those who lack transportation, as well as against unfaithful people. Also, modern humans are too stupid to know what "ye" means.)

7. Bustling Night, Profane Night ("Silent Night, Holy Night" discriminates against those living in a noisy, urban environment, as well as those who partake in events like Mardi Gras that are considered profane)

8. Up on the Shack Roof ("Up on the Housetop" is classist because it assumes a person can afford a house)

9. The Any-Sized Drummer Child ("Little Drummer Boy" excludes large individuals, as well as girls, who are good drummers too. We understand that the sound of drumming can trigger painful war memories in veterans, but we don’t much like veterans, so we have retained the word "drummer" despite possibly offending former soldiers.)

10. I’m Thinking of a Multi-Colored Holiday ("I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas" discriminates against other colors, uses the word "Christmas," and may cause anxiety in those individuals prone to having frequent bad dreams.)

11. I Was Made Aware of Three Ships ("I Saw Three Ships" discriminates against blind people)

12. I was Made Aware of the Bells Everyday ("I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" excludes deaf people, who cannot hear. Also, it is wrong to single out Christmas Day as the day when one hears bells. This may lead some to believe that bells only ring on Christmas, which discriminates against bell-makers, who would lose money if bells only rang on Christmas)

13. Ave Maria (We will allow this title to remain, so long as the Mary in question is Mary Magdalene, the proto-feminist. However, the words must be translated into the vernacular, and altered so there are no Christian themes.)

14. Melancholic Young Normal Nicolette ("Jolly Old St. Nicholas" excludes women and young people, since "old Nicholas" is an old man, and since old men already run the world, why give them more power? Also, we feel depressed people are always left out of Christmas, so we have changed "jolly" to "melancholic." We have also purged the word "saint" in favor of "normal" since "saint" implies someone special.

15. Santa Claudette is Coming to Town ("Santa Claus is Coming to Town" assumes Santa is a male. Evidence suggest otherwise, including early female gift-giver statues found in the North Pole, as well as ice formation inscriptions in proto-Inuit referring to the gift-bearer as a female named "Saunta Claudeth." Eventually the peaceful and feminine "Santa Claudette (English rendering)" was changed to a warrior-thief and reindeer-enslaver named "Santa Claus" by Christian missionaries to the north pole. The peaceful feminine figure was replaced by a male-figure who sneaks into people’s houses, forces eight *tiny* reindeer to drive a sleigh with millions of toys, hires elves at minimum wage with no benefits, and once permitted an untrained elf named Hermey to act as a dentist.

16. We Three Democratically Elected Marxist Leaders ("We Three Kings" is oppressive because it speaks of kings. We added "Marxist" because it’s the best type of government out there.)

It seems that Anne Rice has found Jesus, returning to the Catholic Church of her youth. The link takes you to a recent interview with Rice. From now on, this famous writer of vampire and softcore S&M encounters, will only write books that are "for the Lord." For those who have not read her books (I have not), at least two of them became famous movies, including "Queen of the Damned" and "Interview with the Vampire."

Rice is currently writing a book about Jesus as a 7-year old, from his perspective. She (quite correctly I suspect) suggests that many fans may be disappointed with her decision to only write "for the Lord." In this interview, she admits to "loving" the "Passion of the Christ," reading a book by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (although disagreeing with their vision), and even calls Jesus "the ultimate supernatural hero…the ultimate immortal of them all."

Interesting.

  Many of us feel saddened by what has happened because of hurricane Katrina, yet are wondering what we can do. First, we can pray. We can offer up our prayers, novenas, litanies, and good works on behalf of those affected by the hurricane. Second, we can donate money. Catholic Charities is accepting donations for Katrina relief here. Finally, we can conserve energy, food, and supplies to help lesson the economic effects of the hurricane. Stay at home, have a simple meal with your family, take a walk, and pray together instead of driving 10 miles to go out to eat and take in a movie. You save energy, and can donate the money saved by not eating out to the Katrina recovery effort. And I don’t think I need to explain the benefits of praying. It’s not much, but it’s a start.

We need to pray for New Orleans, and other cities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Right now the impending damage seems to be immense. In addition, right now (as of Sunday evening), in futures trading, the price of crude oil has gone up $3.50, and gasoline has risen 20 cents. This is an *insane* increase, especially for Sunday evening, when trading is slow. Tomorrow, the price may go up even more. Please pray; we have a dangerous situation here.   

Vandals Hit Sorrowful Mother Shrine
Carey Shrine Visitors Threatened by "Ministry of Annoyance"

Vandals have decapitated a statue of Mary, and "ministers of annoyance" recently came to a major Assumption festival to disrupt worship. It’s sad. I don’t know if these two events are related, but both happened at shrines close to one another, and within a short time span. I have visited both shrines and they are within a reasonable driving distance of my home. I have always felt God’s presence at both places, and have blogged on my visits there in the following entries:  Our Lady of Consolation and Sorrowful Mother Shrine.

Decapitating a statue of Jesus’ mother is despicable. Destroying or defacing a symbol of any religion is disrespectful and shows a real lack of character. As to the "ministers of annoyance," I wonder how many people have been annoyed into the kingdom of God? Very few I suspect. I remember on the Simpsons there was an episode when Artie Ziff (Marge’s ex from high school) came onto Marge in an annoying and overbearing way. Marge asks him, "Does that work on anyone?" Artie replies, "No…but when it does…hello! Such is evangelism. Annoying, pestering, criticizing, threatening, and badgering people into the kingdom of God has never worked, not that I admit the "ministers" in question here have a grasp on what God’s kingdom is anyway.

I want all my non-Catholic readers to know that I do not believe for a second that the actions of the "ministers of annoyance" represent mainstream evangelicalism or Protestantism. I have a great Protestant family and many great Protestant friends, and they too think this approach is ridiculous.

Thanks to Catholic Report for the hat-tip.

Image is either mine of Jonathan’s from our visit to Carey.