God's Just Not PC

A substitute principal at Everitt Middle School, in Wheat Ridge, CO, has come up with the idea for a new Pledge of Allegiance.

Her new Pledge, which she claims is more inclusive, now ends with, “one nation under your belief system.” Instead of one nation under God. Nice.

Hopefully the residents in Wheat Ridge wake up and make Margo Lucero’s tenure a short one. Here’s an idea, if you disagree with the pledge, remain silent. No one is forcing anyone to actually say the pledge. The idea that everyone needs to be sheltered, is not a decision that a school principal should be making.

In Other God News

Students at a college in Scotland have banned Bibles from resident halls because it might be offensive to non-Christian students. In addition to the ban, the students want all 6,000 Gideon bibles removed as well. I guess it’s ok to offend someone who might actually want to read the bible, or believe it’s teachings as a part of their faith. This proves once again that it’s ok to be anything you like, just so long as it’s not Christian.

Is Network News "Dying" ?

On Tuesday, April 19, former ABC newsman Sam Donaldson declared network news “dead.”

Speaking at a breakfast panel for the National Association of Broadcasters in Las Vegas, Donaldson went on to say that the days of the “monster” news anchor are long gone.

Even with over 30 million viewers a night, what would lead a former insider to claim network news is dying? CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC would love to have those numbers. Bill O’Reilly gets about 6 million a night, and CNN’s top rated show gets about half of that. MSNBC is barely on the map.

While 30 million viewers is nothing to laugh at, it is about half of what it was 30 years ago, and continues to grow smaller each year. So when did the shift start?

Blame CNN

In the 90’s, CNN did something unheard of, cover a war – live. At almost any point in the day, you could tune in and see the progress over in the Gulf. Since then, Fox News and MSNBC have hit the airwaves. Matt Drudge became a, almost, household name when he broke the Monica Lewinsky scandal, on the internet, during the Clinton administration.

Today, newspapers are too late. Network news is late. We can tune in to the internet or cable and know what’s going on in the world, all in a matter of minutes. By the time we get home, we know the big news of the day. Only local news has any impact.

As Sam Donaldson points out, if something huge, like the President being shot, were to happen; people would turn to cable or the internet. God forbid someone breaks into General Hospital or CSI. And, ABC is even testing new shows for the long running “Night Line” time slot.

With Tom Brokaw retired, Dan Rather “retiring”, and Peter Jennings fighting cancer, network news is encountering a facelift. Looking ahead, it may not be the kind they wanted.

New Era

White smoke. Ringing bells. Cheers from tens of thousands.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, of Germany, walked out today as the new Pope of the Catholic Church. Former right-hand man to Pope John Paul II, Ratzinger begins his new roll in the church as Pope Benedict XVI.

Many wonder how this new Pope will guide the church. In some ways there will be little difference compared to John Paul, as the two were very close. He is known as a hard-liner, strictly adhering to conservative principles. Including the current stance on homosexuals and birth control. He has upset some in the past by saying that Jesus is the only way to salvation, that other Christian faiths have fallen away from Christ, and saying no to women serving as priests.

From Behind a Large Shadow

Whatever the outcome of the new Pope, one thing is clear. He takes over the church trying to fill the large shoes that Pope John Paul II leaves behind. No doubt he will have a strong influence on the direction of the church. As it grows all over the world, he will have to guide the faithful. With grace and humility he asked today for Catholics to pray for him. I'm sure they are.

With all of the loud cheers today, Pope Benedict, which means "blessed", will be starting out on a high point.

More Apathy, Please

There are some new polls out recently showing President Bush and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger seem to be dipping in their approval ratings. Schwarzenegger’s people are questioning the source for the poll, while the White House rarely comments about poll numbers.


Schwarzenegger was successful in winning the recall election, which saw the horrible Gray Davis removed from office. President Bush was reelected this last November by the largest number of any President. Why the dive?

Forget “Red State” or “Blue State”

I think the real reason for the number slide is that the American people, in general, just don’t care. There are some out there who never tune into the news and never even open a news paper. And usually they claim it’s because the news is too depressing.

The lawmakers are no different. Republicans are content with their majority and really aren’t getting much done. Democrats are worse. All they seem capable of is shooting down anything the Bush administration talks about and never come up with their own idea. But, look for a nasty battle when it’s time to appoint some new Judges to the Supreme Court.

Call it a State of Apathy. We care to not care. Complain, rather than act. Point our fingers at what’s wrong, but are not trying to do something right.

A good example; more people care that Britney Spears is pregnant, than care that Social Security’s slush fund is running out.

Oh, who cares……

"C" Used to be for Cookie

In an effort to encourage kids to eat healthier, Cookie Monster is cutting back on the cookies.

Instead of cookies being an “anytime” food, Cookie Monster is learning that cookies should be a “sometime” food. Even the beloved song, “C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me” is being changed. The new song features, “a cookie is a sometimes food.”
McDonald’s did something similar with Ronald McDonald telling kids to eat less burgers. But how effective can a puppet’s push for change be?

“P” used to be for Parent

TV is not a baby sitter. Too many parents these days see no problem plopping their kids down in front of the boob tube while they go on with their business. Meanwhile, kids are getting lazier, eating more, and are having learning problems as they get older.

Perhaps if parents spent more time paying attention to what their kids are doing and less time pursuing their own success, Cookie Monster could have as much of his favorite treat as he likes.

I mean, what’s next? A kinder, gentler Oscar the Grouch?!

At Rest

as i write this, the cameras of the world are focused on the top level of the Vatican waiting for the moment when the shades are drawn and the lights turned out. at that moment Pope John Paul II will have passed away from this life and leave behind a legacy truly worthy of the title "Pope of the People."

in his years as pontiff, he defied critics, built up the church, and took on the strongest of world leaders. but not with a weapon or government, he took them on with a deep belief and faith and a simple microphone.

i have believed that if it were not for his determination and integrity, the Catholic Church would have suffered more during all of the recent scandals and lack of new priests. his standing for the highest and most modest person is what has set him apart in his years as Pope.

so as the world holds it's breath, it is right to take a moment and remember a man of faith and caring. a man who took on evil empires and held babies born with A.I.D.S. a man whose Lord and Savior will be glad to welcome home.