Jewish-Muslim tensions rise at U.S. colleges

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/02/jewish-muslim-tensions-rise-at-u-s-colleges-11041

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Posted: 28 Feb 2010 10:13 AM PST University of California at Irvine Library, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons Tensions are growing on college campuses between Jewish and Muslim student groups. An incident in early February at the  University of California- Irvine in Southern California was apparently just the latest in a string at that university. Muslim students began heckling Israeli Ambassador Michael Orin when he came to speak at the University. The disturbance continued for close to 20 minutes, until Orin could no longer wait for the group to subside, and left the pulpit. Eleven of the protesting students were arrested as a result; however it has raised several questions at universities and across the Internet: Why was it allowed to go on for so long? How far should freedom of religious speech be allowed before a situation can turn threatening or violent? Why, by contrast, did Iranian President Ahmadinejad successfully complete his speech at UC Berkeley, in an atmosphere where order and respect were demanded? According to a Web site report by the Jewish Federation of Reading, Pennsylvania, an event defending a two-state split of Israel into a Jewish-Palestinian state also caused tensions between Jewish and Muslim students at the University of Pennsylvania earlier this year. The organization Students for Academic Freedom (SAF, not religiously affiliated)  reported in 2007 that Pace University in New York has repeatedly ignored anti-Semitic activity toward the Jewish student group Hillel since they attempted to get approval to show a film warning of extreme Islamic terrorism. Pace University representatives claimed they didn’t want the movie to stir up violence or hatred, but SAF found that, although there have been incidents against both Jewish and Muslim students at Pace, only the ones against Muslims have brought about police investigations. For me, that is a heavy statement. It does appear to me that since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001,Americans have taken significant steps to make those who follow Islam feel respected and comfortable, and not at all blamed for the works of a few extreme terrorists who claim Islam as their faith. But, I believe,  this has come at the cost of a rise in anti-Semitism  and an increase in anti-Christianity, as evidenced by claims that 9/11 was prompted by Israel (see evidence of theories at the Daily Star of Lebanon Web site), and that Christian support for Israel is unwarranted. While America strives for diversity and tolerance, it seems that there is still an escalation toward the opposite, even among our young people. Does trying to ignore our differences make them more evident instead of less? How should Christian students react? As Christians, we learn that our main enemies aren’t people of flesh and blood, but that we struggle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). Perhaps Christian students can display the love of Christ on campus, while also helping Jewish and Muslim students to see that their fight is not against each other, but against those explained in this verse – and that we can fight against the dark power of terrorism together.

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What kind of fruit will you produce this year?

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/02/what-kind-of-fruit-will-you-produce-this-year-11020

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What kind of fruit will you produce this year? Posted: 26 Feb 2010 09:03 AM PST The past is gone, the future waits; What will that future be?—Dixon, alt. Yet another year has passed, and we are entering a New Year with lots of hopes. During such times, it’s good to take  stock  of the past. Generally as Christians we do this through different activities at the end and beginning of the new year. It is always good to think about the past. We can think about how God has blessed us, and, perhaps, what He has in store for us this year. But there is something else we have to ponder as we enter this new year. Will we produce good fruits for the Gardener who placed us in this big garden? In Isaiah 5:1-7, we read the Song of the Vineyard. A man had some fertile land, so he decided to create a vineyard. He fenced it in; he made sure there weren’t any stones in it. When he was satisfied that the land was ready for planting, he planted choice, heirloom vines in his vineyard. He also built a tower and a winepress in the vineyard. Because of all his preparation, he thought that his vineyard would produce the best grapes, but to his surprise, the vineyard produced something else–wild grapes. He laments in verse four, “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes and it produce worthless one?” This gardener had a great expectation about his seedling he planted, but unfortunately it produced bitter (wild grapes KJV) fruits (worthless-NASB). In verses 5 and 6 we read about the bitter reaction of the gardener towards his worthless vineyard. He says, “I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground and I will lay it waste; it will not be pruned, nor digged, but briers and thorns will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it.” How sad! That vineyard was completely uprooted. The gardener had no mercy towards it. Are you like the garden in this song? Are you producing bitter fruit for the one who tends us–God? If you are, take note of the fate of the vines which produced bitter fruits. The gardener destroyed them; he removed its hedges and consumed it. He trampled it to the ground and laid it waste. If you are like the vine in the Song of the Vineyard, there is hope. In John 15 we read of another vine–Jesus. In verses  one and two, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.” Unlike the vine that was trampled in Isaiah 5:1-7, this vine actually produces good fruit, so the vine dresser or gardener is pleased with it. As Jesus says in this verse, He is the true vine and we, those who believe in him, are the branches. This shows our dependence on and relationship with Christ, with whom God is well pleased. Also take note of the fact that the gardener, instead of destroying the good vine, does remove the branches that are not fruitful. But those that produce fruit are pruned. As branches or members of Christ, sometimes we need pruning to produce better fruit. Pruning is a painful process, but the result is better than the process… the end is better than the beginning. This year, let us be under His hands and accept His pruning in our life to produce much fruits for His glory. May God Bless.

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Supreme Court: First Amendment allows for corporate campaigning near elections

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/02/supreme-court-first-amendment-allows-for-corporate-campaigning-near-elections-11002

Posted: 23 Feb 2010 11:25 AM PST On Jan. 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution’s First Amendment freedom of speech does not prohibit corporations from spending money to promote certain candidates close to election cycles. The Court was narrowly split with a five to fourdecision. Citizens United v. FCC has been called a free speech victory by some but a defeat by others. At the state level, the ruling overturns limits on corporate election spending in dozens of states. In the federal arena, it negates about sixty years’ worth of previous laws limiting corporate campaign money, especially the most recent Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (commonly known as the McCain-Feingold Act). The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) prohibits corporations and organizations from sponsoring advertisement for a particular candidate within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. It’s been debated since its inception whether this Act, prohibiting “issue advocacy ads” or “election communications broadcasts,” is unconstitutional, in that it stifles the free speech of collective groups around elections when it is most important to keep citizens informed. Although not specifically stated in BCRA, the wording also limited paid election free speech from unions, general marketplace organizations, religious and grassroots organizations, even those with non-profit 501 (c) 3 status. Concern about losing this type of freedom of speech came from members of Congress and organizations running the spectrum from conservative pro-life groups to liberal green environmental groups. Organizations like Concerned Women for America (CWA) see the latest Supreme Court decision as an overall victory for religious free speech. In a media release , CWA’s CEO Penny Nance wrote: “The Court correctly concluded that judges should stop playing semantics with our Constitution and read the text as it is written. The government should not be limiting political speech because someone is rich or poor, or because they disagree with a particular point of view. Americans are the real winners today.” Nance also noted that, as a matter of record, many senators had voted for McCain-Feingold with full knowledge that it might be unconstitutional. However, according to a Washington Post report, President Obama has called the Supreme Court ruling a defeat for the American people, saying that removing these limitations will allow “a green light to a new stampede of special interest money.” Writing for the Court’s 183-page decision, Justice Kennedy stated, “We find no basis for the proposition that, in the context of political speech, the Government may impose restrictions on certain disfavored speakers.” For the dissenting judges, Justice Stevens called it a radical change in the law ignoring the opinion on such issues of most previous Supreme Court justices. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act also pulled the reins in on “soft money” campaign financing by political committees which was increasingly not subject to federal limits; and prohibited state and local money not only for races, but simple discussion of issues within election time frames.

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Sir Elton John: “Jesus was a Compassionate, Super-Intelligent Gay Man”

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/02/sir-elton-john-jesus-was-a-compassionate-super-intelligent-gay-man-10994

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Sir Elton John: “Jesus was a Compassionate, Super-Intelligent Gay Man” Posted: 20 Feb 2010 01:32 PM PST Elton John on stage at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England: 2008. 62 year-old English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist Sir Elton John recently became the center of controversy among conservative Christians when he claimed that Jesus “was a […] super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems” in an interview with entertainment magazine Parade. “On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East – you’re as good as dead.” John spoke with Parade’s Dotson Rader about love, drugs, fame, his civil relationship with Canadian filmmaker David Furnish, religion and everything in between. “Just about every relationship I ever had was involved with drugs,” recalled the singer. “But I always had to be with someone, good or bad, otherwise I didn’t feel fulfilled. I’d lost the plot.” John and Furnish have been partners since 2005 and continue to appear together at celebrity events and fundraisers, including those held by the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Since the AIDS-related deaths of his close friends Ryan White and British musician Freddie Mercury, John has become a notable philanthropist and public spokesperson to raise awareness of the disease. John’s recent comments on Christianity and Jesus, however, have drawn fire from conservative news media personalities and even Catholic League President Bill Donohue. “Jesus was certainly compassionate, but to say he was ‘super-intelligent’ is to compare the Son of God to a successful game show contestant,” said Donohue. “More seriously, to call Jesus a homosexual is to label him a sexual deviant. We’re not sure what’s worse—John’s ignorance or his intolerance. In any event, if we thought we could persuade him to issue an apology, we would try. But given his recidivism, we won’t even bother to ask.” Donohue also added, “One thing is clear. Someone needs to straighten John out.” During last night’s FOX News broadcast of “The O’Reily Factor,” conservative political commentator and host Bill O’Reily mentioned Sir John is his “Pinheads & Patriots” segment. While O’Reily praised actor Jack Nicholson as patriot for his visiting the Walter Reid Memorial Hospital to “raise the morale of wounded troops,” he slammed John’s comments. “While the singer is correct in asking for compassion toward gay people, he is a pinhead for calling Jesus a gay man,” said O’Reily. “There is absolutely no evidence of that.”

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“Preacher’s Kid” Film to Raise Funds for Haiti

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Official theatrical poster for the film. (c)Copyright 2010 Crown of Life Ministries and Gener8Xion Entertainment. In the wake of Haiti’s devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake, one faith-based film is making a difference. Writer/Director Stan Foster’s “Preacher’s Kid” debuted in 109 select theatres in 33 cities the weekend of January 29 and has already gained considerable support. The film raked in $109,000 in just three short days, a small amount compared to the majority of Hollywood blockbusters, but more than enough to aid relief efforts in Haiti. “Preacher’s Kid” tells the tale of 20-something Angie King (played by platinum-selling Capitol Records artist LeToya Luckett), a preacher’s daughter who “strikes out on her own for the very first time and joins a traveling gospel show,” according to the movie’s official web site synopsis. “In this modern-day rendition of the fable of The Prodigal Son, she soon discovers life on the road is tough but fears going home with nothing to show for herself, or worse, to a father who no longer loves her.” At the film’s official blog, Gener8Xion Entertainment founder and CEO Matthew Crouch, who also co-produced the film, says it was only natural to aid the country with which he has shared a lifelong relationship. “My family has shared a longtime love for the people of Haiti,” he said, “Having made numerous trips there over the years as my mother funded a hospital and supported an orphanage, it’s touched our hearts to see how the world has stepped forward to give so generously to the relief efforts.” Critics are continuing to hail “Preacher’s Kid” for its excellence, including Roger Moore of the “Orlando Sentinel who deemed it “the best Christian drama since ‘Fireproof.’” “Hollywood Shuffle” (1987) Director Robert Townsend praised the movie as “filmmaking at its best—well written, well directed, and the performances are top notch. It touches your heart, breaks your heart and puts it back together again. A new American classic is born.” In addition to Luckett, “Preacher’s Kid” also stars Sharif Atkins (“White Collar”), Greg Alan Williams (“Remember the Titans” and “Baywatch”), Essence Atkins (“Half & Half,” “Are We There Yet?”) and Tammy Townsend (“Sherri”). Although movie theatres generally keep close to 60 percent of box office income, Gener8Xion Entertainment has estimated that just over one-third of the cost of each ticket sold will be sent directly to relief efforts in Haiti. For more information on the film and how you can contribute and support, visit the movie’s official web site at: http://www.preacherskidfilm.com

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