One of the great things about living in Miami is that you get a hurricane every few years to keep you on your toes. I was here for Andrew in 1992 and Irene in 1999. Now I can add Katrina to the list of stories for future generations. One of the things you learn about hurricanes is that you have to maintain a happy-go-lucky attitude or you end up crying.
Don’t underestimate the despair that people in the delta will be going through this week.
Thanks, Adam, for continuing the BOMblogging campaign (two parentheticals– 1. how great is it to see Adam back in action? 2. Also, don’t you think BOMblogging gets on the list of fantastic, tongue-soothing names invented by Bells? Think Blogscars, BLODTD and Intellecxhibitionist. These guys are sooooo good! We also write jingles.) (Ahem– and they currently have won only 2 of 62 votes at THIS POLL. Ahem).
So can I pile on with my own Book of Mormon thoughts?
Have you ever noticed that the only reason to trust in the Lord is that it’s all going to work out great for you in the end? That’s the way the doctrine is generally taught, at least. And it’s true, taking the long view. But I’m not sure it’s very helpful to jump into such a commitment with so blithe an assurance of the happy times just around the bend.
This story says that the ACLU and CAIR (a pro-Muslim group) have joined together to challenge a North Carolina judge’s interpretation of a law that asks witnesses to swear on “the holy scriptures” (meaning the Bible) when in court. They say that Muslims should be able to swear on the Koran, and one judge disagrees with them. Which of course means that Mormons should be able to swear on the Book of Mormon.
For the record, I believe using the Bible is just fine. Muslims, by the way, share a reverence for many stories in the Bible. The Bible has a special and unique place in the history of the United States. Some people believe case law supports the use of alternate scriptures. This seems like multiculturalism run rampant, but I’m sure some people here may disagree.
Question for the lawyers out there: can witnesses swear on other scriptures in other states?
Pat Robertson, the one-time presidential candidate and evangelical religious leader, has called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. I have spent a fair amount of time in Venezuela and work with many Venezuelan exiles who have come to the United States to escape the dictatorship that Chavez is creating there. Chavez meets with Fidel Castro regularly and there is little doubt that he admires and wants to create a Cuban-style state. But can we agree that calling for the assassination of a foreign leader is probably not something a religious leader should do?