Politics

For those of us struggling to understand the polarization in American politics, this article will give some background and some insight.

The religion gap is the leading edge of the "culture war" that has polarized American politics, reshaped the coalitions that make up the Democratic and Republican parties and influenced the appeals their presidential candidates are making. The debate over same-sex marriage is expected to make it wider than ever this year. Gay rights, partial-birth abortion, definitions of patriotism and other "values" issues are likely to exacerbate the divide between the most observant and others.

Canadian election
I've see from my log some paid political reseachers have popped by to see what is being said on this blog about the election.
Not much.
The media went after Paul Martin the first week, while giving Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe some room, but that will change. There are have been some real gaffes in campaigning.
One thing caught my attention.
As D-Day ceremonies approach there had been complaints that more bureacrats than veterans would be attending the ceremonies in France.
Paul Martin suggested that Stephen Harper and Jack Layton should attend.
Instead, both leaders gave their trip to veterans. Martin countered. But he fell flat again. Opposition leaders were not invited to the 50th anniversary ceremonies, so why make this invite appear to be an election issue?
The parties will have their policy statements firmed up and available by the end of the week.
If you are looking for blog coverage on the election I suggest Andrew Coyne, Colby Cosh, Paul Wells, Leighton Tebay, Ranting and Roaring, Dispatches and Blogs Canada E-group blog for starters.

The secret gamer
There has been a lot of rain here. A lot.
I have ways to cope when weather isn't conducive to human beings.
Games are a great time waster.
There is a store in the area that sells pre-used PC games at bargain basement prices. It is surprising how quickly titles are recycled.
And they can be taken back and recycled again.
So, after five days of rain I picked up a dark mystery called Post Mortem, where I can wander around a 3D Paris and solve some murders.
I also picked up a game called Heaven & Hell, a Sims/Tropico style romp where I get to be God or the Devil. The goal is to convert everyone acccordingly.

I am woman, ignore me

It started with this post - a survey of what blogs are read by the media by Daniel Drezner.

The survey is flawed, but they have to start somewhere.
In both cases looking at the date from elite (A list) and non-elite response one this is patently clear.
They are all male.

Understandably female bloggers responded.
Feministe pointed out the obvious.

Guess what, again?

That's right. Top ten - no women. "Elite" responses - no women. One woman (Amanda Butler) was thanked for "collecting and collating the data while displaying the utmost discretion." Women are valued for ... their secretarial skills.

This discussion comes up approximately every three months. Rivka at Respectful of Otters just wrote about it. I last wrote about it in March. Nothing changes. A male blogger (this time Matt Yglesias) asks where are the women interested in politics, or asks where are the women bloggers? We see more media articles that completely ignore the contributions of the large number of female bloggers out there. The guys inevitably say "mea culpa," but go back to business as usual. Rinse and repeat.

We are half the population, and we are nearly half of the blogosphere. We do not deserve to be ignored.

Drezner responded to the critique and although ackowledging flaws in the survey couldn't resist a few shots. The comments under his post are interesting.
There is a flaw in point 5. If the female bloggers are interested in politics, why wouldn't they be reading the blogs mentioned?
It is one of those blog debates where everyone is busy laying blame.

One of the things that strikes me reading the comments is the scorn and lack of respect, not for the discussion per say, but for women. The female bloggers responding to the survey results did bring up the obvious flaws.
Looking at the comments are they any kind of an indicator of how American males treat women or did this discussion just bring out a few purile types?

Update on Attitudes and Behaviour survey

In response to Bene's call for help with my survey, nearly 600 people have taken a look at it, and 409 have completed the entire survey. I've gotten just under 20 completed surveys per day for the last 4 days, so it looks like my target of 500 is within sight. Many thanks to all who have helped out! If you haven't had a chance to do so yet, there's still time!

I will be posting a complete summary of the results here very soon after the survey is closed. (I'll also post a copy of the results on the survey's URL.) Along with the summary, at that point I can make a brief post about my hypotheses and summary of the instruments that make up the survey.

A bit later (perhaps within 2 weeks after closing the survey) I hope to be able to post a second, more detailed summary with results of my initial analysis of the data.

I've had the pleasure of corresponding with several individuals about the survey, and I'd be happy to entertain any other questions you might have by email. I'd very much appreciate it if blog conversation about the survey's contents could be held off until after it is closed, to prevent unnecessarily biasing responses from those who have not yet had a chance to participate.

Thanks again to the blogging community-- I literally could not do this without your help!

Bene here - I've also had inquiries regarding Dr. Vincent's progress, and asked him if he'd be a guest blogger. I look forward to Mark's posts.
If we pitched in on a blog burst his job would get done, with the silence from the professional Christians a mere bump on an academic road.:^)
Welcome to Bene Diction Blogs On, Dr. Vincent. Blog on!

Feet of clay

Awhile ago a US general received international attention for making untoward remarks and shooting his mouth off.
Lt. General Boykin's comments and attitude were looked at by several bloggers including such small hands, Cut on the Bias, and locdog.
The General's orginal remarks can be found in this MSNBC story. The diplomatic backlash to his attitude is understandable to most of us, but apparently not all of us.

And it now appears the Lt. General is being investigated for Iraqi prison abuse.

One of the major players in the Iraqi prison abuse scandal, it now appears, was the same general almost fired last year for describing the war on terror as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan.

According to testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee and new reporting from the New Yorker's Seymour Hersh, the prison abuse scandal grew out of a decision to give greater influence to the defense intelligence unit, led by Stephen Cambone, the under secretary of defense for intelligence, and his deputy, Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin.

Boykin is a stratigist for a secret program for capturing and interrogating terrorism targets.
This puts evangelical politicos in a pickle.

In addition to adding another wrinkle to the diplomatic catastrophe of this scandal--many Muslims overseas already believe Americans are engaging in an anti-Islam crusade--it raises difficult political and moral questions for conservative Christians.

Last fall, they stoutly defended Boykin, and by extension President Bush, yet they also condemn abuse and torture.

So far, Religious Right leaders are standing by Boykin.

"A lot of our people are just so tired of hearing about that whole situation, especially now that we've seen" the beheading of Nicholas Berg, Christian Coalition Spokesperson Michele Ammons said. "I think it's time to get over it. And that's what I'm hearing."

Time to get over it?
There is a far deeper issue than abuse of prisoners involved.

Angell Watts, spokeswoman for Pat Robertson, said that although "the troops messed up big time," the "liberal media" are overplaying it.

"I was more disgusted at the beheading of Nick Berg," she said. "Look at what we're dealing with."

As for Boykin? Watts said that if Boykin knew about the abuses, "he has to be held accountable. ... Christians are held to a higher standard."

Apparently not.

The Christian Coalition started an online petition in support of Boykin--and posted it on its home page.

Pat Robertson's 700 Club even went so far as to ask Chuck Holton, a former Army Ranger who served under Boykin in Somalia, to attend a church service at which Boykin spoke, record his speech and then report on it for Christian Broadcasting Network.

Welch, in a column for Baptist Press, described Boykin's critics as "back-stabbers," writing: "I despise the unthinkable and asinine fact that some take cheap backstabbing shots at a real God-fearing American hero who continually risks his life to protect all of us."

Even if the evidence accumulates that Boykin was a key figure in the scandal, evangelicals may hold the line.

"They've invested so much in Boykin," said John Green, an expert on the religious right and director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.

In the cult of celebrity, we hold on tight.

People in the pews, however, may react differently.

"No doubt some of them will be appalled," Green said. "And a denial reaction by their leaders might actually encourage an appalled reaction."

The Christian leader in perhaps the trickiest position is Welch, whose new position as president of the Southern Baptist Convention will give him a much higher profile. A friend of Boykin's, Welch has defended Boykin and also collaborated with him on evangelism projects.

Reached at his home, Welch declined comment on Boykin's connection to the Iraqi prisoner scandal, explaining that he knows nothing about Boykin's involvement.

"I really don't want to comment on it because I don't have any idea what he does with those people. I don't have the foggiest idea. I've never inquired what he does. He is just an unbelievable patriot."

What he does with' those' people?
He is indeed an unbelievable patriot.

Professional christians and the rest of us

I'm three steps behind myself today.
Its Memorial Day in the USA and I wish all my friends a good day off.

If you have stopped by, why not leave comment about your experience with a church, professional christian organization or individual not responding to your email in the post below?

I think this is a widespread problem and systemic mindset.
A web presence and an appearance of being psuedo-relational.
Passing up on emails from people that don't give you a potential for return, whether it be finances, power, connections.

What has your experience been?

da big guys

There is an ongoing debate out of the US regarding the influence of blogs on mainstream media. The Online Journalism Review has an article that may be of interest to US readers: To Their Surprise, Bloggers are a force for Change in Big Media.

A week ago I got an email I first thought was spam.
I had to read it twice.
It was from a psychology professor in the US asking for a link up to a survey he'd put together during a sabbatical from his position at his college.
A couple of things hit me.

I don't know how many Phd's are in the US. I know that Dr. Mark Byron is trying to find a teaching position. But I suspect there are a lot of them.
Did I want to link up to a prof from what appears to be a tony liberal college who is looking for attention? What did any of this have to do with me?

I did as I read his email, checked his information and did the survey.
But perhaps not for all the right reasons.
He really caught my attention when I queried him.

I would guess that I've contacted upwards of 25-30 individuals at websites, mailing lists, religious organizations, etc. You are the first to respond to my request. I'm really appreciative.

I was the first???? :^(
What does that say about those 25-30 professional christian organizations and individuals out there?

I asked for a blog burst, and sent a few emails out to bloggers. You responded, linked up and many other bloggers linked up as they caught wind of it.
Hey, we are the small fry.
But every link counts.
Every one.

I didn't tell Dr. Vincent, but I a queried a couple of the professional christian big guys. Just a couple.
One I respect and enjoy, got back to me.
One.
He is far busier than many others, but he took the time to respond. Promptly too. My respect for him went up even more this week.

Hello. Professional christian people.
What is your excuse?
I can't think of many reasons right now that you don't have a minute.
Busy does not equal righteous.
I don't know what good being professional believers/christians are if you can't communicate.
A no is just fine, an acceptable, reasonable answer.
But your silence?
Do you have any idea how loudly that speaks?

Are bloggers forcing change in big media?
Don't know, I'm staying out of that one.
Are bloggers forcing change in professional christian sites and media?
Nope.
Not that I can see much.
Maybe that isn't our responsibility.

Because this past week, bloggers from different countries, different life styles, different viewpoints responded to each other and Mark Vincent.
I didn't have to beg.
I didn't have to figure out some glitzy marketing strategy.
All I had to do was ask. God bless you guys.

As of this morning, Dr. Vincent had 344 respondents.
Just 156 more.
He keeps thanking me for for the blog burst.:^(
I don't deserve the thanks, bloggers and readers do.
And I know I don't want to be a professional christian, it appears in this case being to busy to pay attention is a pre-requisite.
Perhaps a lesson in basic courtesy would help.
Or an extra administrative assistant.
If professional christian people want to see the of salt of the earth - pop by and read the comments under these posts.
I'm happy just being a blogger.
Thank you to every one of you from me.
You guys rock!
And you matter.

Bene, You have no idea how many times during the course of this work I've thought that God was really working in my life. I've honestly never experienced anything like it.

It has been one of the most interesting projects I've ever been a part of, definitely one of the most interesting weeks I've ever had.

Spin spin, spin some more

Most of us have heard the expression media spin.
How would you define it?
Do you think you know when you have encountered it?
Is it conscious or unconscious on the part of the writer or the publication?
Does it affect you?
Yes.

media spin (is) a term often used interchangeably with bias. But... spin is actually subtler and more insidious. It is the shading of meaning or interpretation of events in favour of a particular point of view...

Canadian Ira Basen is writing a book and has come up with several ways spin happens.

1. The use of emotional words.
2. Orwellian misuse of words.
3. Self-censorship. What is not reported.
4. The way something is reported. ie: sensationalizing
5. Oversimplification
6. Failure to present opposing interpretations of the facts.
7. Giving credibility to unidentified and unsubstantiated sources.

Dave Pollard of How to Save the World breaks down those examples above with very current examples. He ends with this:

To the extent they get it right, they deserve a lot of credit -- it's a difficult, thankless, often dangerous and tedious job. To the extent they, and their editors, let spin creep into their stories, we have a duty as readers and viewers and citizens to recognize it, and discount it accordingly. The fact that so many of us are using the Internet to learn more, to check out other interpretations of events, and to get behind the stories so we can understand and talk about the issues facing our world more knowledgeably, we are contributing to the democratic process, and helping to reduce spin. At the same time, there is a tendency in the blogosphere to frequent sites authored and populated by like minds, and some of the hysterics of extremists of every stripe are quite frightening.

He is correct. The danger of exposing yourself to a lot of spin is that you find yourself off balance.
I'd think it is important learn how information is given, and how we receive it, (garbage in - garbage out) and try to become as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove.

Around the world

Flooding
Canadian and US troops were pulled off guard duty this week to help in the grim search for bodies after flooding at the Haitian and Dominican Republic border. The death toll is 2000 and could go higher.
The troops are working with international aid agencies to help survivors get supplies, medical treatment and fresh water. The area has been deforested by the desperately poor cutting wood for fuel.
At least 10 thousand people need food, water and basic relief supplies.

US Prisons
We don't really know how many people are being held in unnamed prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and even in the US because of the 'war on terror.'
A report released yesterday shows that 1 in every 75 males in the US are incarcerated. 2.1 million are locked up, because of the 'war on drugs' and 'three strikes' and despite the fall in domestic crime.

"The prison system just grows like a weed in the yard," said Vincent Schiraldi, executive director of the Justice Policy Institute, which pushes for a more lenient system.

Without reforms, he said, prison populations will continue to grow "almost as if they are on autopilot, regardless of their high costs and disappointing crime-control impact."

Others see it differently.

But Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) said the report shows the success of efforts to take hard-core criminals off the streets.

"It is no accident that violent crime is at a 30-year low while prison population is up," Ashcroft said. "Violent and recidivist criminals are getting tough sentences while law-abiding Americans are enjoying unprecedented safety."

There were 715 inmates for every 100,000 U.S. residents at midyear in 2003, up from 703 a year earlier, the report found.

The nation's incarceration rate tops the world, according to The Sentencing Project, another group that promotes alternatives to prison. That compares with a rate of 169 per 100,000 residents in Mexico, 116 in Canada and 143 for England and Wales.

Russia's prison population, which once rivaled the United States', has dropped to 584 per 100,000 because of prisoner amnesties in recent years, the group said.

It shows no signs of slowing or targeting minor offenses and minority groups.

68 percent of prison and jail inmates were members of racial or ethnic minorities, the government said. An estimated 12 percent of all black men in their 20s were in jails or prisons, as were 3.7 percent of Hispanic men and 1.6 percent of white men in that age group, according to the report.

Iraq Prison Abuse
The voices speaking up in the Christian celebrity and leadership group in the US have been disappointing according to Christianity Today Magazine. In this article I was in Prison and You Abused Me...

Now it's become clear that at least one of these infamous "bad apples" was apparently a Christian. Spec. John Darby, the soldier who reportedly confronted Spec. Charles A. Graner, the ringleader of Abu Ghraib, claims that Graner told him, "The Christian in me says it's wrong, but the correction officer in me says, 'I love to make a grown man piss himself.' " Other accounts suggest that guards abused prisoners out of hostility toward Islam—one soldier reportedly asked a prisoner if he believed in anything, and when the man responded that he believed in Allah, the guard replied, "I believe in torture, and I will torture you."

Early church fathers have a great deal to say. Augustine:

"We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace."

The Lutheran Augsburg Confession states:

"It is taught among us that all government in the world and all established rule and laws were instituted and ordained by God for the sake of good order, and that Christians may …. punish evildoers with the sword, engage in just wars, serve as soldiers, etc."

Yet note how the article ends: "But when commands of the civil authority cannot be obeyed without sin, we must obey God rather than men ( Acts 5:29)."

The article links up to contemporary US Christian leaders words, a few more historical viewpoints and this:

Let's rightly react with revulsion when we see these pictures, and call for an accounting for the crimes committed. But let's also recognize the evil nature in ourselves, and out of this recognition, cheer on the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams and others seeking to counter the evil done by Christians who have failed to live up to their calling. May God have mercy on us and the guards and prisoners of Abu Ghraib.

May God also have mercy on the men and women in US prisons and in the unknown prisons overseas rounded up and filled because of the 'war on terror.'

Iran
A 6.2 magnitude quake in central Iraq has killed 30 and injured over 100.

Myanmar
A cyclone hit the western section of this country killing 140 and leaving 18 thousand homless. Phone and electricity is knocked out. The country is appealing for international aid, particularly clean drinking water.