Tag: Politics

Waxahachie ISD student suspended for John Edwards shirt

I haven’t hadn’t seen this in the WDL or on other media, but Capital Annex in Austin East Texas reports that a local student was suspended for wearing a John Edwards t-shirt to school.
The WDL had a report yesterday that I missed.
Apparently Fox 4 picked up the story:

One Waxahachie family is threatening to go to court after their son was booted from school for wearing a t-shirt supporting a presidential candidate.
Pete Palmer, a sophomore at Waxahachie High School, says he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong when he wore a John Edwards 2008 shirt to school.
But according to the district, shirts with political slogans are against dress code policy.
Waxahachie High School officials told Pete he couldn’t wear it.
“It had nothing to do with trying to stifle anyone’s free speech,” said Thomas J. Collins, WISD Superintendent.
“It was an opportunity for us to continue to try and maintain a safe and orderly environment. The dress code gives us the tools to make a decision on what is right and what isn’t,” Collins added.

WISD’s dress code reads as follows:
“T-shirts, other than WISD clubs, organizations, sports, or spirit t-shirts, college or university t-shirts, or solid-colored t-shirts, are prohibited.”

11 days till Obama makes his announcement

Barack Obama is planning to make an announcement regarding his 2008 plans on Feb. 10. I’m excited to see what goes down if he does in fact announce his presidency.
If you haven’t seen it, here’s his video announcement from a few weeks ago.

Or read a transcript.

You voted for them

From email:

A Washington, DC airport ticket agent offers some examples of why our country is in trouble.
1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn’t get messed up by being near the window.

2. I got a call from a candidate’s staffer, who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, then he interrupted me with, “I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts,” Without trying to make him look stupid, I calmly explained, “Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa,” His response click.

3. A senior Vermont Congressman called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that’s not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, “Don’t lie to me, I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state!”

4. I got a call from a lawmaker’s wife who asked, “Is it possible to see England from Canada?” I said, “No.” She said, “But they look so close on the map.”

5. An aide for a cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, “I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time”

6. An Illinois Congresswoman called last week She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 am and got to Chicago at 8:33 am. I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn’t understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that.

7. A New York lawmaker called and asked, “Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?” I said, “No, why do you ask?” She replied, “Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I’m overweight. I think that’s very rude!” After putting her on hold for a minute while I looked into it (I was laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno, CA is (FAT),and the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.

8. A Senator’s aide called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, he asked, “Would it be cheaper to fly to California, and then take the train to Hawaii?”

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, “How do I know which plane to get on?” I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, “I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them.”

10. A lady Senator called and said, “I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?” I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, Fl. on a commuter plane. She said, “Yeah, whatever, smarty!”

11. A Senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him that he needed a visa. “Oh, no I don’t. I’ve been to China many times and never had to have one of those.” I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, “Look, I’ve been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!”

12. A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations, “I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York.” I was at a loss for words. Finally, I said, “Are you sure that’s the name of the town?” Yes, what flights do you have?”replied the lady. After some searching, I came back with, “I’m sorry, ma’am, I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find a Rhino anywhere.” The lady retorted, “Oh, don’t be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!” So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, “You don’t mean Buffalo, do you?” The reply? “Whatever! I knew it was a big animal.”

Makes you really wonder about the people we’ve elected to represent us.

Wayne Hamilton at Encounter

Political consultant and lobbyist Wayne Hamilton was at Encounter today. Brian’s message was in large part an interview with the former party executive (or as some have called – miniature Karl Rove). I thought it was a great addition to the series on Revolution. I didn’t take many notes from Wayne. Not sure why not, but I guess I didn’t want church to become “work.”

Anyways I thought a great point that Brian’s been making and Wayne helped emphasize was that the key to being effective in politics (and the world around us) as a Christian is to invest in those around you.

“You have to earn the right to speak to people,” Hamilton said. “You can change the world one person at time.”

Hamilton didn’t mention any political parties or candidates that he’s worked for but did mention one man who leads a pro-life organization. I can’t recall the name of the group but the man has gone from Congressman to Congressman and worked to implement things like parental notification and parental consent for minors.

There were no protests, rallies or fighting with the Congressmen. Only going office to office, explaining his point of view and working with the elected officials.

Reminds me of Bono’s work with Africa.

The leader of the organization is a part of the Catholic church and Hamilton made the point that he wished many of his evangelical brothers and sisters would take note.

Brian also asked Hamilton if there was a Biblical story or passage that summed up a proper Christian’s response to politics and government.

Hamilton pointed to the story of Daniel and said that Daniel simply kept serving the Lord no matter what administration was over the country or who’s authority he was under. He simply prayed and followed God and waited for God to change the king’s heart.

Brian added:

“My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.” – John 18:36 (MSG)

2 Chron 7:13&14 says, “If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.” (MSG)

Rain is a picture of peace and joy. The peace and joy in Israel had been cut off as it has for America.

Everything they (we) have worked for was gone. There’s a cancer of selfishness in our society.

But if we want to change our country or change the world, we must start with ourselves. We must change ourselves and stop being concerned with our own needs and problems. We must realize that we are the ones that need to change.

If we sit back and point fingers no change will ever take place.

We must turn from our wicked ways and let Christ live through us.

It’s not enough to sit and watch or sit and complain.

When God changes hearts, that’s when real change occurs.

Brian ended with the story of the 22 year old girl helping immigrants in Arizona.

World Affairs: Rock star Bono urges Americans to improve Brand USA

Rock star Bono urges Americans to improve Brand USA

Jonathan Blundell
Staff writer

DALLAS – In front of a mixed crowd wearing T-shirts, flip flops and business suits, U2’s lead singer, Bono, captivated a Dallas crowd Friday night at the Music Hall at Fair Park – without the help of his legendary rock band.

The event was a fund raiser for Dallas’ World Affairs Council, with tickets going from $25 to $500.

Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison introduced Bono and said she first met the Nobel Peace Prize Nominee at the National Prayer Breakfast, held this past February in Washington.

“He gave a spellbinding address,” Hutchison said. “He is an extraordinary man not easily forgotten. For sure he is a great singer, a true rock star and a man with heart and deeds to match his words.”

Bono, one third of Time Magazines 2006 Person of the year, was then welcomed to the stage with a thunderous standing ovation.

He assured the “loud ones in the crowd” that the rest of his band would not be joining him for the night.

“If you were expecting the band, I’m sorry to disappoint, I don’t even tell them that I do these things,” Bono said as he loosened his canary yellow tie.

Donning a dark grey business suit, his trademark sunglasses and flashing the UT “Hookem,” Bono told the crowd of 4,000 that he wasn’t accustomed to wearing a tie and joked that he didn’t wear ties for politicians — but only for the people of Texas.

Bono then recounted his journey to becoming “a rock star with a cause” and said he had been humbled in Dallas before.

“The first time I was in Dallas was April 1981 and U2 was double billed with a wet T-shirt contest,” the Irish rock musician said. “The tickets were only $1 and only 30 people showed up. The DJ then introduced us as one of the most promising bands from England.”

Bono said that as a teenager growing up in Dublin, he was impacted by punk rock bands like the Clash.

“The Clash was like a public service announcement with a guitar,” Bono said. “I took it at face value. But then I discovered they wore the boots, but they wouldn’t march. They’d break bottles over there head but they wouldn’t do the painful thing like attending a town hall meeting.”

In 1985, Bono became involved with Africa and politics at Live Aid, a multi-country concert and fund-raiser to raise awareness for problems in Africa.

“Shortly after Live Aid, Ali (Bono’s wife) and I went and lived in Ethiopia for a month,” Bono said. “The children there called me the girl with a beard. Ethiopia blew my mind. On the last day there a man handed his baby to me and said ‘please take him with you.’ We had to turn him down and it’s a feeling that hasn’t left me. It was then that I became the worst thing of all – a rock star with a cause.”

But Bono said Africa is more than just a cause – it is an emergency.

“6.5 thousand Africans are dying everyday,” Bono said. “There are 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa alone. When the tsunami hit Indonesia, it killed 150,000 people. In Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every month. That’s one tsunami every month.”

Bono applauded American charity but said there was more to Africa that a need for charity.

“This is not about charity, it’s about justice,” Bono said. “And that’s too bad because we’re good at charity. But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our justice. We would never let it happen anywhere else. Where you live should not determine whether you live.”

With recent debt cancellation by western countries, Bono said that Uganda has used its money towards tripling the number of children in school. Polio, which was once a plague is now almost extinct. Bono also predicted that with continued funding and help, Malaria would be eradicated within five years.

Bono, the consummate politician, sang the praises of President George Bush, who has worked to triple American aid to Africa in the last few years, but said he was saddened by measures in the House this week to cut foreign aid by 10 percent, or nearly $2.4 billion.

Earlier this week, DATA Executive Director Jamie Drummand said, “This is more than a blow to the White House. This is a blow to the Republicans’ global compassion agenda. For House Republicans to shortchange the President’s foreign policy goals will result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives in the world’s poorest countries. The Senate must step up and the President must fight for his initiatives. They can still save these lives.”

DATA is an awareness organization founded by Bono in 2002 to reduce debt, AIDS and improve trade in Africa.

“The global war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty. Collin Powell said that. And when an American military man says the American military is not enough, we need to take notice,” Bono said. “Poverty breeds despair and despair breeds violence. Isn’t it cheaper to make friends of potential enemies than to defend against them later.”

Bono pleaded with the audience to encourage their lawmakers to improve “Brand USA.”

“USA is a truly great brand,” Bono said. “But in some parts of the world, brand USA is not at its shiniest. Never before have we in the West seen our values and credibility under such attack. I want people to know what America stands for. I’m a fan. I’m an annoying fan who reads the liner notes and asks the tough questions. Only I’m reading the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and saying, ‘Doesn’t it say this here?’ These anti-viral drugs are the best advertisement for brand America. I told the president to paint them red, white and blue. Just get them out there. Isn’t compassion one of the best ways to communicate your values?”

Bono added that he had not gone soft and he still preferred army boots over Birkenstocks.

“For the believers in the room, I say that I’m not a very good example,” Bono said. “But we should see this as obedience. A pastor once told me to stop doing things and hoping God blesses them. Find out what God is doing because it’s already been blessed. I’m deeply convicted that this is what God is doing. God has a special place for the poorest of the poor. I believe God is in the slums and God is in the cardboard boxes.”

And Bono compared American foreign aid to church tithing.

“It’s always amazed me how much of Americans tithe 10 percent,” Bono said. “But how does that compare to the federal budget. How much do you tithe as an American family? The number is less than one percent.”
Bono said he realized that while one percent was an extraordinary amount of money, it would make a world of difference in Africa.

“The last time I was in Washington I asked Congress, ‘Is giving one percent more really such a crazy idea?’ It’s got to be a good idea. One percent is a girl in Africa who gets to go to school. One percent is not redecorating a palace, its digging water holes to provide clean water. I know you’ve been through a lot with Katrina and Rita and the War in Iraq. But every generation has its defining moral struggle. This is our Omaha Beach. This is our moon shot. Our one true grab at greatness.”

Bono ended his address with a story about Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Fransico.

Lantos grew up in Hungry and was sent to a concentration camp during World War II.

Bono recalled that the thing Lantos couldn’t get out of his head were the faces of those who watched in silence as people were being boarded onto the trains.

“He said that people just stood by and watched in silence,” Bono said. “The holocaust is not an analogy anyone can use lightly. So I asked if he felt the same thing was going on in Africa.”

Bono said the congressman told him, the only difference was, “we know where the trains are going.”

“We will not stand in silence,” Bono charged the crowd. “We will go and lay down on the tracks and stop them.”

—
For more information visit:
www.data.org
www.one.org