Monday 9 March 2015

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S MOST FAMOUS QUOTE, "DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET."

As I compose this blog, the image below has been shared [perpetuated] 612,134 times.  Lies can take on a life of their own.  I have no idea why someone would deliberately create an Meme like this except to satisfy their own egotistical pride.

A Facebook friend innocently reposted this Meme which prompted me to do a little research.  I went to official Government websites to garner factual information...

Pay rates for Armed Forces can be found here. Assuming a 5-day week/52-week year, Armed Forces salaries start at $32,042 for a Second Lieutenant A and range up to $153,072 for a Lieutenant General. The highest paying job in the Armed Forces is a Brigadier General Medical or Dental Specialist who top out at $163,124. Note: Members of the Armed Forces receive a daily rate rather than a conventional salary.

MP Pensions: Amount of annual pension collected in 2012-13, and the number of parliamentarians (and their survivors and dependants) collecting it:

$90,000 and over — 89 former MPs and senators, one survivor.

$65,000 – $89,999 — 129 former MPs and senators, three survivors.

$40,000 – $64,999 — 180 former MPs and senators, 43 survivors.

$0 – $39,999 — 151 former MPs and senators, 126 survivors and dependants.

Harper’s total annual salary is $315,462, when you include his Prime Minister’s wage of $157,731 and equivalent basic allowance for members of Parliament.  Currently, Prime Ministers who serve four years or longer receive two-thirds of their $157,731 in additional salary — or about $105,000 — in annual pension once they are no longer an MP or reach age 65, whichever comes later. That total is in addition to the pension paid to all members of Parliament who serve six years or longer.


The average combined monthly benefit from Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan is $11,300 per person, so a typical working couple can expect to get about $22,000 a year from the government. If you both worked and contributed to CPP your whole lives, you could get as much as $32,000 a year. This is on top of any private or public pension income.

So, where is the spiritual application in all of this you ask?  Well, yesterday at church the speaker made reference to John 14:6.  We can read it every Sunday as it spans the baptismal tank at the front of the church. Quoting Jesus it says, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE".


As I once again meditated on these words I asked myself the question, "If these words are not true, then what?"  Well, the opposite of the truth is a lie.  In this instance it would have to read "I AM THE WRONG WAY, THE LIE AND THE DEATH"  The truth in this instance applies to the world's ways and to satan - even if he didn't actually say them.  So, here is a truthful meme you are free to share...




As an aside, one of the best places to validate outrageous internet claims and rumours is www.snopes.com

Friday 6 March 2015

WEIGHING IN ON FERGUSON



Jesus well known commendation, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." is an ideal we should all strive for.  Matthew 5:44

But, and it's a big but, God also gave us minds to use [He even promises to give us wisdom] and limbs to get us to the polling station.

That the African American community is [still] in an uproar over the Michael Brown affair, would infer that there is still a lingering sense of injustice.  But I ask the question: why has the African American community done nothing to change their lot?  Obviously there were problems long before the death of Michael Brown.  It COSTS NOTHING to vote.

The following demographics are taken from Wikipedia:

As of the 2010 census, there were 21,203 people, 8,192 households, and 5,500 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,425.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,322.6/km2). There were 9,105 housing units at an average density of 1,470.9 per square mile (567.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 67.4% African American, 29.3% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

The Mayor of Ferguson is directly elected for a three-year term.  Voter turnout in the most recent mayoral election was approximately 12%. The Mayor ran unopposed. The Ferguson city council is composed of six members.

Why, I ask, have not the offended lot exercised their constitutional rights, to run for elected office** and to vote for those you wish to see serve/rule over them?  With a two-thirds majority the African American community are [statistically] without excuse.  They complain but choose, yes choose, not to do anything about it.  Looting and burning is an exercise in criminality - not of civic responsibility.  Using rope whips and overturning tables is OK though when, and only when, obvious wrongdoing is in process.

The old adage, as you sow [indifference] so shall you reap [oppression] seem most appropriate under the circumstances.

In the same way, I find it truly hypocritical of President Obama today to accuse the leadership/police of Ferguson City of being "oppressive and abusive" towards blacks when he does nothing to hold these oppressed and abused citizens to account for not exercising their civic duty.  And, yes, it is a duty.

It will be interesting to see if anything changes in the next municipal election.  Unfortunately, I am not too optimistic.

**While the Mayor may not have direct control over the Police Chief and his hires, he/she will certainly have sway over the City Manager who does.