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I blogged this from my phone. This will be interesting.

Fifty-nine Deceits in Fahrenheit 911

Fifty-nine Deceits in Fahrenheit 911, by Dave Kopel, Independence Institute

If you have not read this article, then you have not "seen" the film. Minute by minute, scene by scene, Kopel, a Nader voter, takes apart the unethical propaganda of Moore.

What I learned from this is a great respect for the integrity of George W. Bush. If you spend two hours of film cramming in one deceit for every two minutes of the film, doesn't that mean that you don't have anything really damning to spend your time on?

There's no there, there.

You may not agree with Bush's policies, but if Michael Moore can't make a better argument than this, then Bush has to be a pretty sound guy as politicians go.

I am going to buy this film soon. I've read that it's a primer on the ethics of documentary film making. So much so that it could be a "text" for any media studies class.

How can I honor God with my work, and leisure?

This article changed my life.

It is in many ways the reason that I decided to go into ministry.

It is a jarring exploration of the significance of how we spend our waking hours.

It is a classic by Walt Henrichsen that I can't find anywhere else.

I read it in college and I've never been the same.

I've kept it for 15 years and now, through the miracle of blogging, make it available here.

I strongly urge you to read this and/or give it to students in High School or College who are approaching graduation.

Many thanks to Rebecca and her Mom for digitizing it for me.

Elizabeth Hoffman Resigns from CU

I just heard it on KNUS.

Update: More here and here.

Her resignation would be effective June 30, or as soon as the regents name a successor, she said.

The regents planned a press conference for later this morning.

Ward Churchill Yes! Phil Mitchell No! Diversity (or it's lack) at CU

Denver Post writer David Harsanyi provides an invaluable service this morning by contrasting the fate of Ward Churchill and another, lesser known CU Professor, Phil Mitchell:

"Mitchell never refers to "actions" or "trigger fingers" and seldom calls anyone a Nazi.

Boring stuff.

As an alternative, Mitchell likes to employ facts in his history courses.

He teaches. He doesn't preach.

His reward? After more than 20 years, Mitchell may be out at CU."

Mitchell belongs to that hated sect, responsible for so many atrocities in the Middle East and around the world: Conservative Christianity?

Of course, as Harsanyi notes, this kind of "radical" agenda is not welcome at CU:

"...Mitchell had the audacity to use a book on liberal Protestantism in the late 19th century. So repulsed by the word "god" was one student, she complained, and the department chair fired him without a meeting, he said.

Was there a protest for academic freedom? Bullhorns? Power to the people?

Conceivably, if Mitchell would have used a less-offensive book - say the Churchill classic "Perversions of Justice" (Ward's hobby?) - he could have rallied the Kool-Aid brigade lickety split.

In time, Mitchell was reinstated but was never able to teach in the history department again."

Of course one thing we all know about conservatives of any stripe, they are racists right?

Mitchell taught at the Hallett Diversity Program for 24 straight semesters. That is, until he made the colossal error of actually presenting a (gasp!) diverse opinion, quoting respected conservative black intellectual Thomas Sowell in a discussion about affirmative action.

Sitting 5 feet from a pink triangle that read "Hate-Free Zone," the progressive head of the department berated Mitchell, calling him a racist.

"That would have come as a surprise to my black children," explains Mitchell, who has nine kids, as of last count, two of them adopted African-Americans.

There seems to be discrimination here, just not by the conservative.

And so the sad saga of CU slouches from silly to sinister. I wonder if it's a coincidence that this article didn't come from a Boulder paper.

BAPTISTS EXCLUDE MCLAREN

SmartChristian Blog brings us word that Brian McLaren of "emergent" fame has not endeared himself to baptists by saying you don't have to follow Jesus, to follow Jesus:

He wrote that that not all people may need to be Christians to be followers of Jesus. Some people, he suggested, may be able to be "Buddhist … (or) Jewish or Hindu followers of Jesus."

"I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Jesus was so narrow minded.

Dateline and Michael Horton drop the hammer on Benny Hinn

Since I'm an alum of WTSC, I heard that Michael Horton was going to be on Dateline (what a lame web page for their coverage) tonight for their story on televangelist Benny Hinn.

I Tivo'd it and just finished watching with my wife.

We were sickened.

Being in ministry ourselves, our revulsion is particularly violent upon seeing the shameless manipulation for personal gain that characterized Benny Hinn's "ministry".

Most painful were the shots of the lame and ill who wait in the back to experience healing at a Hinn event, and go away with nothing but crushed hopes and less money.

This juxtaposed with Hinn "laying over" at the most expensive hotel suites from Cancun to Europe.

I consoled myself with this though.

Hinn's ministry is not part of the ECFA which includes reputable Christian organizations like the one I work for.

Mike Horton looked good. Fatherhood seems to agree with him. He's apparently had 4 since I left the seminary in 2000. He obviously takes seriously the part about God's promises "for your children also."

They highlighted his book on televangelism on the show. His organizations web site is full of resources. No blog though, which is very disappointing for a guy who thinks so highly of the Reformation. I think I'll send him a copy of this.

Atheism Losing Believers

Science, 'frauds' trigger a decline in atheism - The Washington Times: World - March 04, 2005: "Two developments are plaguing atheism these days. One is that it appears to be losing its scientific underpinnings.
The other is the historical experience of hundreds of millions of people worldwide that atheists are in no position to claim the moral high ground. "

Someone tell our fine Universities.

Velveteen Equations

Velveteen Equations is a blog from a student at South Carolina who is involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. I hope to begin to gather a list of Cru bloggers.

Krugman: Another casualty of the Blog Reformation

I was reading Linked, which on the whole is a fine book when I choked on a particular name:

From pg. 210: "Paul Krugman, professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton..."

5 years ago I would have been very impressed by this description. Princeton is where smart people of towering moral intellect like Peter Singer work, right?

But since I began to read Instapundit last year, I have read the name Paul Krugman again and again.

And his name is always mentioned with derision.

Examples are as fresh as today's headlines.

Blogs have made it possible for me to read, almost weekly, devastating critique of a New York Times economist.

I don't know anything about Economics. Heck I can barely balance a checkbook.

But I know from the withering accountability of blogs that Paul Krugman is usually wrong, and usually partisan. Never mind that he's featured in "the paper of record".

Speaking of which, the New York Times is regularly the object of derision. At least it's not the object of outrage (like the LA Times).

The emperor has no clothes.

Thanks Blogosphere: Reformed and always reforming.

Dennis Prager: The case for Judeo-Christian values

I realized the other night after hearing Dennis Prager at CU that I ought to link to his series on Judeo-Christian Values.

I heard someone say years ago that an evangelical Protestant like me has more in common with a Roman Catholic than a liberal Protestant. I think that's true.

The reason hinges on the question of whether the text of Scripture is Divine and infallible.

I think the same could be said about Jews like Prager. Prager has more in common with evangelical Protestants like me than he does with secular Jews.

Here's the first installment.
Dennis Prager: Better answers: The case for Judeo-Christian values: "Better answers: The case for Judeo-Christian values"

Here's a juicy quote:
"The oft cited charge that religion has led to more wars and evil than anything else is a widely believed lie. Secular successors to Christianity have slaughtered and enslaved more people than all religions in history (though significant elements within a non-Judeo-Christian religion, Islam, slaughter and enslave today, and if not stopped in Sudan and elsewhere could match Nazism or Communism)."

Von Trier: Death Penalty for Donkeys

Death Penalty opponent Lars Von Trier who made the powerful film Dancer in the Dark, apparently doesn't extend his mercy to those further down the food chain:

"Maverick Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier will cut scenes of a donkey being butchered from his film about slavery in the U.S. South after protests from animal rights activists who said he killed the animal for entertainment."

Von Trier denied the donkey was killed for entertainment. He said the political and social content of the film, "Manderlay," was so important that it would be unfortunate if it was rejected or ignored because of the donkey.

"My personal feeling is that I acted conscientiously, and I don't suppose we'll ever agree on that."

Thank You Hillel for inviting Dennis Prager to CU

Here's a slightly blurry picture of Dennis Prager, taken at a reception after the talk. Major kudos to Hillel at CU Boulder for making it possible for Dennis to speak.

Here's Dennis after the talk examining a digital camera from someone in the audience. He's probably asking if they read the Instruction Manual. ;-) 

Dennis Prager Spoke at CU Boulder - 7 Should Israel Exist

Dennis responded to the claim that Israel has no right to exist by asking why one would single out Israel. Every country was founded by war and conflict and yet Israel is singled out as the one that is not legitimate.

He said that compared to the founding of Pakistan out of India, the founding of Israel was like a square dance.

He recommended Freedom at Midnight to prove the massive death and strife that accompanied the founding of Pakistan.

Dennis Prager Spoke at CU Boulder - 6 Save Money on College, don't send your kids.

I've heard Dennis Prager on the radio for 14 years and until last night, I've never heard him so forcefully suggest that you might be better off not sending your kids to college.

He used to say that college was not as important as most people make it out to be.

Last night he actually said that unless your child is going into the hard sciences, you would be better off giving your child $15,000 a year for four years and lettting them travel or do as they will with it.

His argument is that a liberal arts education is so foolish, that just living in the real world, is better than recovering from 4 years of disinformation and propaganda.

His famous quip is, "whenever I hear something particularly stupid, I know the person speaking must have gone to graduate school".

Dennis Prager spoke at CU - 5 America is good for Jews

One of the classic moments from last night's talk by Dennis Prager was when two students asked Dennis about how he can say that America is Judeo-Christian and good for Jews and that Europe is bad.

The two of them, in turn, read a list of examples of anti-Semitism in America. They questioned whether America could be described as Judeo-Christian.

They thought Dennis was too dismissive of Europe.

They said, in effect, that actions are more important than beliefs to judge a person or country and the anti-Semitic actions of Americans are more indicative than any Judeo-Christian values.

Prager's response was overpowering.

He said that he had written a book on anti-Semitism and he was familiar with the examples they gave. He asked them why they didn't include several other famous examples.

One of the students asked how he could dismiss Europe when it produced the likes of Einstein. To which Prager responded that Einstein fled Europe.

The crowd roared.

Prager then said that despite all of their examples, he could prove that America was the best country in history for Jews.

He asked the two students at the microphone if they were both Jewish. They said they were.

Prager then asked them why they would choose to live in America, when there is a Jewish state, if they really believed that America is so bad for Jews.

"Talked about your actions betraying your beliefs", Prager quipped. The crowd bellowed in uproarious laughter.

Checkmate.

These two students slowly returned to their seats, encouraging one another and obviously licking their wounds.

Boker tov, on Prager, CU, the media and free speech

Boker tov, Boulder! got up this morning and did as I did.

He looked for news coverage of Dennis Prager's talk at CU last night.

What he found was that tolerance and free speech only go so far at CU, depending on what your politics are:

"When someone is called a N----- [the N-word], no one talks about Free Speech.

It's Free Speech to degrade and defame thousands of innocents murdered in a terrorist attack by calling them 'little Eichmanns.' It's Free Speech when you trivialize the Holocaust, or -as Prager said last night- make it seem silly. It's Free Speech when Ward Churchill publicly laments that 9/11 proved 'insufficient to accomplish its purpose' and says, 'What the hell? It was worth a try.'

Nearly 200 CU faculty took the time and trouble to to sign and publish an ad in the local paper (Daily Camera) to the effect that these statements by Ward Churchill fall under the protection of Free Speech and as such, do not warrant a formal investigation by the University. Do you think they would sign and publish a statement saying that one student calling another a nigger is a matter of Free Speech? No way.

So what do we learn from this? One thing I've learned is that the ethical stance being applied to the 'recent wave of racism' is a sham, differentially applied, based not on timeless principle but on fleeting popularity and utility. What kind of ethical code is it that only applies to some of the people some of the time? Certainly not one you can count on.

The public's responsibility 'for doing something' of which the Vice Provost spoke --the responsibility that 'shouldn't rest solely on the people victimized'-- is not applied equally across the board. Look at it this way. This responsibility to 'do something' is vehemently invoked in this case where folks have been insulted, but is not being invoked where folks have been incinerated ... Jews slaughtered in the Holocaust, passengers on hijacked planes and so-called 'technocrats' working in the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

That's some standard they've got going.

While I started out this morning wishing that Jewish concerns might receive the same level and kind of response as Black concerns, I don't anymore. We may not be supported at all, but any sense of security felt by the Black community could be false. Anyone can, and the Black community may yet, have the rug of support pulled out from under them, should the political wind shift.

At least as a Jew I know where I really stand. There are limits to what people will tolerate, but the lines are drawn in shifting sand. I know I cannot assume that my people will be included, considered or respected at any given time or place. I cannot necessarily expect protection, equal or otherwise. But at least I am not being fooled.

The other thing I learned was that Churchill won't have truly gone over the top until he calls someone a N----- [the N-word]."

Strong words. Read the whole thing.

Ward Churchill, The Nazi's and Godwin's Law

How to post about Nazis and get away with it - the Godwin's Law FAQ includes some interesting guidelines about refererring to the Nazi's:

"1. If someone brings up Nazis in general conversation when it wasn't necessary or germane without it necessarily being an insult, it's probably about time for the thread to end.

2. If someone brings up Nazis in general conversation when it was vaguely related but is basically being used as an insult, the speaker can be considered to be flaming and not debating.

3. If someone brings up Nazis in any conversation that has been going on too long for one of the parties, it can be used as a fair excuse to end the thread and declare victory for the other side."

Does this mean the conversation was over as soon as Churchill began it?

Dennis Prager Spoke at CU Boulder - 4 Jews and Christians

Dennis Prager said that there is an alliance of Jews and Christians in America today that is unlike anything in history.

Jews protested for the cross to remain on the seal of LA County.

Christians are working for the good of Israel.

Dennis sees this as a powerful alliance. I remember Dennis talking about dialogue that occurred between Jews and Christians following the release of The Passion. He said it was very positive. Wouldn't it be ironic if a movie that was described by the ADL as anti-Semitic was a cause of greater unity between Jews and Christians?

Dennis asked last night why the leaders of the ADL shouldn't be fired for being so wrong about The Passion. He accused them of slandering Christians by accusing them of the possibility of violence accompanying the release of the film. Prager also asked why the ADL doesn't condemn people like Ward Churchill who trivialize the holocaust by improperly citing Adolph Eichmann.

Maybe the ADL is growing in their moral acuity.