A reason to riot

As I write this, people are changing their schedules because of school closings, buses are being re-routed away from embassies and angry mobs are taking to the streets (again).  Why?  Because of a cartoon in France, and the expected angry outburst by radical Muslims (see link below).

Meanwhile, people all over the world are openly musing about whether a small piece of paper (just turning up now) gives credibility to the idea of Jesus having a wife.  This is an idea not suggested in the Scripture in the slightest, nor supported by any other historical writing of credibility.   It is not hard to conclude that it is obviously either a quote taken out of context, a work of fiction or a fraud.  For me at least, suggesting that Jesus - who is God incarnate - had a wife of human birth (and so mated with his own creation) is not only highly offensive, it is full-ticket blasphemous.

Yet I am not rioting in the streets, shouting threats at embassies, burning cars or writing death threats to the local paper that published this 'news'.  Nor am I encouraging other Christians to do so.

 The truth does not need force to enforce it.  It just needs to be true.  This is true of gravity and of the laws of physics just as it is true of the Word of God.  You may be offended at that statement of facts, but it is still true.  You can jump up in frustration at it, but you come down again because it is true today, was true yesterday and will be true tomorrow.  Jesus is Truth, and all the mocking of all the people of the entire world cannot change that.  Jesus is King of Kings and will return just as the Scripture says He will.  All the burning of every car in all the countries of the world, and all the riots of all the angry mobs around the globe will not change that.  For that I am glad and I am at peace, even if the whole world is not.
 
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/20/charlie-hebdo-mohammad-cartoon/

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/19/5-questions-and-answers-about-jesus-wife/?hpt=hp_t3

Saving America

Today the new iPhone 5 was announced, and within hours the Financial Post had a headline about the new iPhone saving the US economy, “Could the new iPhone save the US economy?  JP Morgan thinks it might!”  JPMorgan’s chief U.S. economist (Michael Feroli) is quoted in support of FP’s article.  I believe the next phrase you are thinking after reading that is something than means, ‘inane exaggeration’ but describes bovine output. 

That the newest gadget is impressive is beside the point.  The chief economist of one of the largest financial institutions in the world is crunching numbers about the overall impact of a single new gadget!  Now don’t get me wrong – the reason I read the article is because I followed the link at the bottom of a Google News section on Apple.  I am a confessing Applevangelist.  But is the world economy really so much about flash and sizzle?  After all, an iPhone is only a device that is supposed to help make you more productive in real life.  It is a tool, not ‘real life’ by itself - it is to us in the wired world what a shovel is to a farmer in the developing world.  A better shovel might mean better crops – or it might mean the farmer who spent all his money on it spends a lot less on seed and has fewer crops to show for it.  

I would think it better economics to crunch the numbers about what a new gadget means to the productivity of the people using it.  I wonder if Mr. Feroli would crunch that number for us.  Perhaps he would, if only he had a better smart phone.

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/09/10/could-the-new-iphone-save-the-u-s-economy-jpmorgan-thinks-it-might/

Interesting graphic about iPhone users:

http://socialtimes.com/differences-between-an-average-iphone-and-android-user-infographic_b75069

Childish Games (with Life-changing Impact)

According to macleans.ca, Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois is not only set to win the Quebec provincial election, but already plans on a new referendum to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada.  The fact that this issue is at an all time low in the minds of the Quebec people does not appear to be a stumbling block for her.  Instead, she has the following strategy as detailed on MacLean’s web site:

“First, Marois says she would ask Ottawa for greater control of numerous areas ranging from foreign policy to copyright law to economic development.  If Ottawa refuses, it would fight.  These scraps will take place in legislative arenas and, in some cases, probably in the justice system all the way up to the Supreme Court.  Each PQ loss would be added to the list of reasons why Quebec would be better off alone, fanning the flames of the separatist movement.

        

Second, the PQ would set the mechanics in motion to hold another referendum.

The party has already transferred the responsibility for calling one onto the general public.  Once 850,000 people sign a petition, or 15 per cent of Quebec’s population, the PQ says the public could demand a referendum. Marois plans to establish a new cabinet post that would manage such requests.  To provide herself a little wiggle room, in case the polls aren’t favourable, Marois now says the legislature would have the right to refuse.”

Reading this, it is obvious that what is driving this ideology is NOT what is best for the people of Quebec or the nation that provides Pauline Marois with the freedom she is exercising.  No, Marois is driven by her desire for an independent Quebec, no matter the cost to the people.  What she wants she plans to get, even if she has to play manipulative and childish games to get it.  Make no mistake, fixing for failure and playing the people against themselves are nothing more than just that – childish manipulation.  This is politics at it’s ugliest. 

Astonishingly, Marois isn’t even trying to hide such an agenda!  The sad reality is that far too many people are so consumed with their own lives that they really don’t care how manipulative those with power around them are - as long as they largely leave them alone.  So Marois knows that the vast majority of Quebecers will never read of her strategy until it’s too late.

Sadly, the same is true of the rest of Canada.  For far too long we’ve listened to Quebec politicians complain and whine, so the majority of Canadians are content to ignore Quebec and it’s leaders, as long as it doesn’t interfere in their lives.  It will be too late when the referendum comes!  In the past, people spoke of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.  In the future, it will be the people fiddling while the leaders tear the country apart.