Blue Summer
Hollywood is peddling sex like crazy this season even though the sexualization of our culture is exacting a fearsome toll, especially on young girls.
By Brian Fitzpatrick
Culture and Media Institute
July 19, 2008
Hollywood seems to have sex on the mind this summer. From pop music to reality shows to dramas, the sexually charged material currently being offered up by the entertainment media is making Woodstock look like a Boy Scout jamboree.
That Hollywood peddles sex is not exactly news. What is news, though, is the increasing evidence that our society’s libertinism comes at a steep price. In addition to soaring cases of sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and abortions, the sex culture is inflicting a wealth of emotional injury on teenaged girls.
A new study by the Mental Health Foundation in England reports that young girls are being victimized by premature sexualization, commercialization and alcohol abuse, resulting in high levels of stress and unhappiness. According to the study, “Sexual advances from boys, pressure to wear clothes that make them look too old and magazines and Web sites directly targeting younger girls to lose weight or consider plastic surgery were identified as taking a particular toll.”
The statistics are shocking: 40 percent of the 10- to 14-year-old girls surveyed said they know someone who has “self-harmed,” and nearly that many know somebody who has experienced panic attacks. A third have a friend suffering from an eating disorder.
The head of the Mental Health Foundation told Life Site News, “Girls and young women are being forced to grow up at an unnatural pace in a society that we, as adults, have created and it’s damaging their emotional well-being.”
Hollywood’s studio execs, producers and writers should sit up and take notice. may attract adult audiences, but children are watching too, and it’s too much for many of them to handle. In addition to robbing kids of their innocence, the constant sexual images and allusions are creating a cultural environment that makes demands on children that they are not ready to meet and should not have to think about. Children’s innocence is a valuable commodity that society ought to guard jealously. Hollywood moguls have children too, and their children are not immune from Tinseltown’s destructive cultural influences.
Showing posts with label DUANE TEWINKEL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DUANE TEWINKEL. Show all posts
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
BILLY GRAHAM
Billy Graham
For You
Saturday July 12, 2008
* Is the Devil Trying to Turn Me Away From God?
* Tips for What to Do After an Accident
Is the Devil Trying to Turn Me Away From God?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: A year ago I accepted Jesus into my life, and for a time I really felt He was with me. But now I find myself wondering sometimes if God even exists. This scares me, because I don't want to miss going to heaven. Why has this happened? Is the devil trying to turn me away from God? -- Q.S.
A: The devil will always try to turn us away from God; after all, this is the main thing he wants to accomplish in our lives. And one way he does this is by probing for our weak spots and trying to take advantage of them.
But don't blame everything on the devil; he doesn't deserve all the credit! The real problem, I suspect, is that after you gave your life to Jesus you thought this was the end, and it was all you needed to do. You knew your sins were forgiven, and you knew as well the reality of the Bible's promise that "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life" (1 John 5:11-12).
But afterward you never did anything to strengthen yourself spiritually -- and over time you became spiritually weak. Just as a newborn baby needs food and warmth in order to survive and grow, so you needed spiritual food and warmth -- the "food" of the Bible and prayer, and the "warmth" of fellowship with other believers. If these were missing, your spiritual life inevitably suffered.
God has not abandoned you; He loves you and yearns for you to grow stronger in your faith. Confess your weakness to Him, and then take time each day to be alone with God in His Word and in prayer. In addition, ask Him to lead you to a church where Christ is central, and where you can grow in your faith.
========
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
MY oh MY, SHAME ON HER
COLUMBIA TO AX PLAGIARIST NOOSE PROF
By CATHY BURKE
COPIER, OVER AND OUT:Professor Madonna Constantine, who said a noose was left on her office door, is vowing to fight her termination for plagiarism.
COPIER, OVER AND OUT:Professor Madonna Constantine, who said a noose was left on her office door, is vowing to fight her termination for plagiarism.
June 24, 2008 --
The controversial Columbia Teachers College professor whose alleged discovery of a hangman's noose on her office doorknob triggered national outrage is being fired for plagiarism, school officials said yesterday.
Madonna Constantine, a professor of psychology and education with a focus on racial issues, was informed June 12, and the news was relayed to faculty in a letter yesterday.
Her firing is subject to a hearing before a faculty committee, and in the meantime, she has been suspended "effective immediately," according to the letter.
A lawyer for the tenured prof blasted the decision as "retaliatory and hostile," and said he would fight the move in court.
He also threatened to sue for defamation.
"It's not the end," vowed a friend of Constantine outside her Morningside Heights apartment last night.
The bombshell dismissal caps a tumultuous series of events that began last October - near the end of an investigation of Constantine's alleged plagiarism of former Professor Christine Yeh and two graduate students, Tracy Juliao and Karen Cort.
Just four months from the conclusion of the plagiarism probe, Constantine, who is black, said she discovered the symbol of racial hatred.
Cops began an investigation into the noose allegation - as did a grand jury. No results have yet been released.
In February, a Manhattan law firm hired to investigate the plagiarism charges determined that Constantine was guilty in two dozen incidents. She immediately appealed.
"As one of only two tenured black women full professors at Teachers College, it pains me to conclude that I have been specifically and systematically targeted," she said at the time.
But on June 4, the Faculty Advisory Committee upheld the charges.
College officials, in their letter to the faculty, hinted at escalating ill will. The letter blasted Constantine for going public with her accusations of plagiarism "against those whose works she had plagiarized."
Cort said she was gratified about the firing.
"I feel like justice has been served," she told The Post.
"The entire experience was very traumatic.
"It saddens me that she's using racism. I think racism is a real thing, but I don't feel this investigation was against her because she's a black woman. It was because she abused her power."
Constantine's lawyer, Paul Giacomo Jr., said her firing would be effective Dec. 31 unless she asks for a faculty committee hearing sooner.
Additional reporting by Christina Carrega
By CATHY BURKE
COPIER, OVER AND OUT:Professor Madonna Constantine, who said a noose was left on her office door, is vowing to fight her termination for plagiarism.
COPIER, OVER AND OUT:Professor Madonna Constantine, who said a noose was left on her office door, is vowing to fight her termination for plagiarism.
June 24, 2008 --
The controversial Columbia Teachers College professor whose alleged discovery of a hangman's noose on her office doorknob triggered national outrage is being fired for plagiarism, school officials said yesterday.
Madonna Constantine, a professor of psychology and education with a focus on racial issues, was informed June 12, and the news was relayed to faculty in a letter yesterday.
Her firing is subject to a hearing before a faculty committee, and in the meantime, she has been suspended "effective immediately," according to the letter.
A lawyer for the tenured prof blasted the decision as "retaliatory and hostile," and said he would fight the move in court.
He also threatened to sue for defamation.
"It's not the end," vowed a friend of Constantine outside her Morningside Heights apartment last night.
The bombshell dismissal caps a tumultuous series of events that began last October - near the end of an investigation of Constantine's alleged plagiarism of former Professor Christine Yeh and two graduate students, Tracy Juliao and Karen Cort.
Just four months from the conclusion of the plagiarism probe, Constantine, who is black, said she discovered the symbol of racial hatred.
Cops began an investigation into the noose allegation - as did a grand jury. No results have yet been released.
In February, a Manhattan law firm hired to investigate the plagiarism charges determined that Constantine was guilty in two dozen incidents. She immediately appealed.
"As one of only two tenured black women full professors at Teachers College, it pains me to conclude that I have been specifically and systematically targeted," she said at the time.
But on June 4, the Faculty Advisory Committee upheld the charges.
College officials, in their letter to the faculty, hinted at escalating ill will. The letter blasted Constantine for going public with her accusations of plagiarism "against those whose works she had plagiarized."
Cort said she was gratified about the firing.
"I feel like justice has been served," she told The Post.
"The entire experience was very traumatic.
"It saddens me that she's using racism. I think racism is a real thing, but I don't feel this investigation was against her because she's a black woman. It was because she abused her power."
Constantine's lawyer, Paul Giacomo Jr., said her firing would be effective Dec. 31 unless she asks for a faculty committee hearing sooner.
Additional reporting by Christina Carrega
Monday, June 16, 2008
RONNIE, ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS
Reagan legacy: Telling the truth
'My advice to the next president is: Trust the people'
________________________________________
Posted: June 07, 2008
12:50 am Eastern
By Sterling Meyers
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
Ronald Reagan
For a political candidate, there's nothing quite like telling the American public the truth. At least that's the conclusion from several experts at a panel asking the question for today's generation: "What would Reagan do?"
The event, sponsored by the Young America's Foundation, featured Mark Tapscott, a former member of the Reagan administration and now an editorial page editor of "The Washington Examiner."
"Reagan believed there was no substitute for telling the American people the truth," he said.
On the fourth anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's death, Tapscott was joined on the panel by Rebecca Cox, another former member of Reagan's administration, and Congressman John Shadegg of Arizona.
They speculated what Reagan would do now.
(Story continues below)
Though presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama has great communication skills like Reagan had, said Tapscott, he "doesn't have the genuine convictions that make him credible."
Reagan was a political figure that "engender[ed] good feelings from both sides," said Frank Donatelli, chairman of the Reagan Ranch Board of Directors.
Tapscott and Cox, onetime Reagan assistant for public liaison and now a vice president at Continental Airlines, said the next president must be honest with a trustworthy American people.
Cox said she hopes the American people "see through" the charismatic senator, adding that she thinks the American people are smart enough to know the how some Obama policies would spark dramatic tax increases.
Reagan challenged the American people to do great things and to take care of their own lives, Tapscott said. He quoted Reagan, who said, "Government is not the solution. Government is the problem."
Cox and Tapscott agreed that Reagan's convictions drove his actions, which marks a good president.
"My advice to the next president is: Trust the people," said Cox.
Shadegg echoed the sentiments of the other panelists when he said that "[Americans] already have the freedom, we just have to fight for it."
When asked how Reagan would face a long war, Donatelli said, "I have no doubt that he would see it through."
Panelists said that if the next president acted like Reagan, who approached a struggling economy and international unrest at the time of his presidency, he might revive optimism and succeed, like Reagan did, at becoming one of America's great leaders.
'My advice to the next president is: Trust the people'
________________________________________
Posted: June 07, 2008
12:50 am Eastern
By Sterling Meyers
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
Ronald Reagan
For a political candidate, there's nothing quite like telling the American public the truth. At least that's the conclusion from several experts at a panel asking the question for today's generation: "What would Reagan do?"
The event, sponsored by the Young America's Foundation, featured Mark Tapscott, a former member of the Reagan administration and now an editorial page editor of "The Washington Examiner."
"Reagan believed there was no substitute for telling the American people the truth," he said.
On the fourth anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's death, Tapscott was joined on the panel by Rebecca Cox, another former member of Reagan's administration, and Congressman John Shadegg of Arizona.
They speculated what Reagan would do now.
(Story continues below)
Though presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama has great communication skills like Reagan had, said Tapscott, he "doesn't have the genuine convictions that make him credible."
Reagan was a political figure that "engender[ed] good feelings from both sides," said Frank Donatelli, chairman of the Reagan Ranch Board of Directors.
Tapscott and Cox, onetime Reagan assistant for public liaison and now a vice president at Continental Airlines, said the next president must be honest with a trustworthy American people.
Cox said she hopes the American people "see through" the charismatic senator, adding that she thinks the American people are smart enough to know the how some Obama policies would spark dramatic tax increases.
Reagan challenged the American people to do great things and to take care of their own lives, Tapscott said. He quoted Reagan, who said, "Government is not the solution. Government is the problem."
Cox and Tapscott agreed that Reagan's convictions drove his actions, which marks a good president.
"My advice to the next president is: Trust the people," said Cox.
Shadegg echoed the sentiments of the other panelists when he said that "[Americans] already have the freedom, we just have to fight for it."
When asked how Reagan would face a long war, Donatelli said, "I have no doubt that he would see it through."
Panelists said that if the next president acted like Reagan, who approached a struggling economy and international unrest at the time of his presidency, he might revive optimism and succeed, like Reagan did, at becoming one of America's great leaders.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
CHALLENGE
Here's one for guys and gals. Who said this, when, political affiliation.
I'll give you a clue, I agree with the speaker.
What do I believe? As an American I believe in generosity, in liberty, in the rights of man. These are social and political faiths that are part of me, as they are, I suppose, part of all of us. Such beliefs are easy to express. But part of me too is my relation to all life, my religion. And this is not so easy to talk about. Religious experience is highly intimate and, for me, ready words are not at hand.
I'll give you a clue, I agree with the speaker.
What do I believe? As an American I believe in generosity, in liberty, in the rights of man. These are social and political faiths that are part of me, as they are, I suppose, part of all of us. Such beliefs are easy to express. But part of me too is my relation to all life, my religion. And this is not so easy to talk about. Religious experience is highly intimate and, for me, ready words are not at hand.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
SCREW PELOSI AND HER COHORTS
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/04/absolut-arrogance-and-the-advertising-agency-behind-the-reconquista-ad
Better SAVE Than Sorry
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, April 09, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Immigration: Why would nearly 50 Democrats not allow legislation they co-sponsored to get to the House floor for a vote? Because their boss, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, doesn't want meaningful immigration reform that protects our borders.
________________________________________
Read More: Immigration
________________________________________
It's a tad unnatural for House Republicans to be pushing a so-called discharge petition to force a vote on a piece of Democratic legislation. But such is the case with the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement Act, or SAVE, authored by freshman Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina.
Among the bill's key provisions are the addition of 8,000 border patrol agents the next four years and 1,200 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to strengthen interior enforcement and support local law enforcement officers.
Another provision ensures that agents have "high-quality body armor that is appropriate for the climate and risks faced by the agent."
The SAVE Act also provides for the acquirement along the border of advanced technologies, including aerial surveillance systems and infrared technology. It would add 13 more federal judges to hear cases against those who are arrested for breaking into the U.S., including drug traffickers and the wily coyotes paid to transport illegal aliens into this country.
While adding sticks, the act cuts down the number of carrots attracting illegal aliens — illegal employment — by expanding the E-verify program to provide employers with the tools to confirm that prospective employees are legally here. E-verify is a Web-based system to cross-reference Social Security numbers and other pertinent information. Some 56,000 employers already use the system.
The system screens all applicants, so racial profiling is not an issue. As we've noted, in states where local authorities have ramped up enforcement, illegal immigration has declined dramatically, and many of those already here have left under a process some have called self-deportation. The risks soon exceed the benefits.
While the V stands for verification and the E stands for enforcement, the A does not stand for amnesty. This might explain the opposition of the House Democratic leadership.
It deals strictly with sealing the borders first, creating a safe and secure system under which issues such as guest workers and paths to citizenship can be dealt with. The theory is: First, stop the bleeding.
It could be that some of these co-sponsors are not serious, that they want to go before the voters saying they're in favor of protecting our borders knowing the legislation might never see the light of day. Then they can say it's not their fault it's bottled up in committee. Few voters know or care that a discharge petition is a procedure that moves a bill out of committee
The bill has 147 co-sponsors from more than half the states, including 49 Democrats, but Speaker Pelosi is leading the fight to prevent a floor vote. It takes 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a floor vote, and so far 185 have signed the one on SAVE. Interestingly, only 10 of the original Democratic co-sponsors have done so.
An outraged Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner said in support of the discharge petition:
"In just the past year, this (Democratic) majority voted to cut funding for the border fence, opened the door to illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded services without showing proof of citizenship and overturned a successful GOP proposal to prevent taxpayer-funded federal benefits from being awarded to illegal immigrants."
If 33 of the original Democratic co-sponsors of the SAVE Act who have not signed the discharge petition were to do so, the bill would proceed to the floor where serious debate on a major issue could begin. But that would require Democrats' going on record in an election year and doing more than blowing smoke on border security.
/
Better SAVE Than Sorry
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, April 09, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Immigration: Why would nearly 50 Democrats not allow legislation they co-sponsored to get to the House floor for a vote? Because their boss, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, doesn't want meaningful immigration reform that protects our borders.
________________________________________
Read More: Immigration
________________________________________
It's a tad unnatural for House Republicans to be pushing a so-called discharge petition to force a vote on a piece of Democratic legislation. But such is the case with the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement Act, or SAVE, authored by freshman Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina.
Among the bill's key provisions are the addition of 8,000 border patrol agents the next four years and 1,200 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to strengthen interior enforcement and support local law enforcement officers.
Another provision ensures that agents have "high-quality body armor that is appropriate for the climate and risks faced by the agent."
The SAVE Act also provides for the acquirement along the border of advanced technologies, including aerial surveillance systems and infrared technology. It would add 13 more federal judges to hear cases against those who are arrested for breaking into the U.S., including drug traffickers and the wily coyotes paid to transport illegal aliens into this country.
While adding sticks, the act cuts down the number of carrots attracting illegal aliens — illegal employment — by expanding the E-verify program to provide employers with the tools to confirm that prospective employees are legally here. E-verify is a Web-based system to cross-reference Social Security numbers and other pertinent information. Some 56,000 employers already use the system.
The system screens all applicants, so racial profiling is not an issue. As we've noted, in states where local authorities have ramped up enforcement, illegal immigration has declined dramatically, and many of those already here have left under a process some have called self-deportation. The risks soon exceed the benefits.
While the V stands for verification and the E stands for enforcement, the A does not stand for amnesty. This might explain the opposition of the House Democratic leadership.
It deals strictly with sealing the borders first, creating a safe and secure system under which issues such as guest workers and paths to citizenship can be dealt with. The theory is: First, stop the bleeding.
It could be that some of these co-sponsors are not serious, that they want to go before the voters saying they're in favor of protecting our borders knowing the legislation might never see the light of day. Then they can say it's not their fault it's bottled up in committee. Few voters know or care that a discharge petition is a procedure that moves a bill out of committee
The bill has 147 co-sponsors from more than half the states, including 49 Democrats, but Speaker Pelosi is leading the fight to prevent a floor vote. It takes 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a floor vote, and so far 185 have signed the one on SAVE. Interestingly, only 10 of the original Democratic co-sponsors have done so.
An outraged Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner said in support of the discharge petition:
"In just the past year, this (Democratic) majority voted to cut funding for the border fence, opened the door to illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded services without showing proof of citizenship and overturned a successful GOP proposal to prevent taxpayer-funded federal benefits from being awarded to illegal immigrants."
If 33 of the original Democratic co-sponsors of the SAVE Act who have not signed the discharge petition were to do so, the bill would proceed to the floor where serious debate on a major issue could begin. But that would require Democrats' going on record in an election year and doing more than blowing smoke on border security.
/
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