Monday, November 15, 2010

Give ye them to eat


1Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

3And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

4And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

6And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

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10And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

11And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

12And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

13But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

15And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
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Luke 9:1-6, 10-17.
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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Polish exorcists gather in Warsaw

Polish exorcists are gathering in Warsaw for their national congress confident in the knowledge that their numbers are increasing as more and more Poles struggle with Satanic possession.

The national congress comes as part of a policy by Poland's Catholic Church to lift the veil on what was once a secretive practice
Photo: CORBIS


By Matthew Day in Warsaw 4:19PM GMT 12 Nov 2010

Since 1999 the number of Polish exorcists has surged from 30 to over a 100, despite the influence of the Catholic Church waning in an increasingly secular Poland.

Exorcists attribute the increase in their numbers to growing scepticism in psychology in the wider Polish population, and people looking for spiritual reasons for mental disorders.

In recognition of modern science, however, exorcists now work in tandem with psychologists in order to distinguish between psychiatric problems and the work of the devil.
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Pope Attempts History Revision







A recent article challenges the Pope’s account of the historical relationship between the Roman Catholic church and the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler.

The pope is at it again. In a speech before the Queen of England last week, Pope Benedict XVI carefully revised the history of what led up to the scourge of Nazism during World War II. He said, “Even in our own lifetime, we can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews, who were thought unfit to live” (emphasis mine throughout).

But was it really a godless society in Germany that led to the Nazi atrocities? Benedict, who was a registered member of Hitler Youth at 14 and served in the Germany Army at 16, said he recalled the regime’s attitude toward religion and Christian pastors “who spoke the truth in love, opposed the Nazis and paid for that opposition with their lives.” ...

Benedict concluded, “As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the 20th century, let us never forget how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society. …”

Of course, it was actually the inclusion of “God” and religious ideology that provided the Nazi regime its greatest source of inspiration. Adolf Hitler himself was a deeply religious man and wanted to be seen as a religious figure.

“We are not a movement—rather we are a religion,” Hitler said about his regime (Robert G.L. Waite, The Psychopathic God: Adolf Hitler).

“Christ was the greatest early fighter in the battle against the world enemy, the Jews,” Hitler said in 1926. “The work that Christ started but could not finish, I—Adolf Hitler—will conclude” (John Toland, Adolf Hitler). He even said he learned from the Jesuit order “above all.”

While other influences, like social Darwinism, might have contributed to Nazi doctrine, this fact remains: Most Nazis believed in God and claimed to be doing the work of God.

And to suggest that the Vatican stood against Hitler’s psychopathic religion is yet another blatant attempt to revise the historical record.

The Vatican was actually Nazism’s chief enabler (“Benedict Revises the Historical Record," http://www.thetrumpet.com/, Sept. 24, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Inspiration has described the continuing nature of the papacy.

The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. “Faith ought not to be kept with heretics, nor persons suspected of heresy” (Lenfant, volume 1, page 516), she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ? (The Great Controversy, p. 571)

Warning Against Adultery


Proverbs 7


1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

King James Version (KJV)
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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Keep the Sabbath day


12Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

13Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:

14But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

15And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (King James Version)

The Executive Judgment and Final Cleansing


2 Peter 3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.


Many have forgotten the reality of the Biblical flood. Even Christians try to explain it away as being merely a parable. Noah, they maintained means rest. Therefore, Noah was to bring rest to the people. The flood is symbolic of Christ washing sin away and we rest with Noah from all work. They made great mention that nowhere does scripture say Noah tried to reason with the people, or called them to come into the ark. God simply washed sin away and all that was left was righteousness.

Now any honest Bible student would see that this fulfills Peter's prophecy that; "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

It also contradicts Hebrews 13:7 when "by faith, Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is accorded with faith."

Noah: "This one will "comfort" us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed." Gen. 5:29

The word used as "comfort" is "nacham" meaning: give forth sighs, to breathe strongly, be sorry, full of pity, seeking comfort, trying to ease, even has a sense of repentance and avenge.

Noah was one who would sigh and cry for the abominations of his people. This sounds very much like Ezekiel nine to me, where God commissions an investigative judgment before the executive judgment-- for judgment was about to befall upon them.

Ezekiel 9.4-5 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

The message of Noah was a judgment message.

God says, "My Spirit will not always strive with man I will give him 120 years." Gen. 6:3

For 120 years Noah preached the message, calling people to repentance and to come into the ark of safety. But they would not. They hardened their hearts with the deceitfulness of sin. They hardened their hearts in rebellion. Therefore they could not enter the provision God made for their "comfort" -- all Noah's sighing and pitying could not ease their terrible end.

As far as human wisdom could see, the event predicted by Noah was not likely to occur. Rain had never fallen. Why would the God who had created such a beautiful earth destroy it with by a flood. I'm sure if Noah had set up a web page or started preaching today, it would be declared as the ultimate exhibit of paranoia. How could Noah preach such a message if he was resting in the love of God?

It wasn't sins that were drowned, it was people who hardened their hearts and would not listen.

This is no parable-- this is history! As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the time of the end. (And so it is)

2 Peter 3.8-9
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God sends a message of warning before destruction comes. That is His consistent pattern throughout the Bible. Prepare thyself to meet thy God! Get ready — watch and pray, put on the whole armor, resist the devil and draw very close to THY GOD — the ONE WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH!

Before the destruction of Sodom, God sent a message to Lot, "Escape for your life; look not behind you, do not stay in the plains but escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." (Gen. 19:17) The same voice of warning was heard by the disciples of Christ before the destruction of Jerusalem: "When you shall see Jerusalem encircled with armies, then know that the desolation of it is near. Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Luke 21:20,21)

There is to be a coming out, a decided separation from the wicked, an escape for our very lives. As it was in the days of Noah, as it was in the days of Lot; as it was in the days of Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, so it will be in the last days.

2 Cor. 6.17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

It is very interesting that the message preached from the churches in our day is the VERY OPPOSITE to the message Revelation tells us to preach.

The message we hear now is ecumenicalism — let's join with all other's who profess to be Christians regardless of their beliefs and doctrines. The Bible says "Come out of her, My people that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4

There can be no compromise between God and the world! "You can not serve God and mammon" Matt. 6:24 There must be an active separation from sin or God's people will lose their way and will not hear His voice.

Like the people living in Sodom, the people are dreaming of prosperity and peace and pleasure. "Escape for your life," is the warning from the angels of God. But other voices clamor to drown out the voice of warning. "Don't get excited; there is no cause for alarm: The multitudes cry, "Peace and safety" while Heaven declares that swift destruction is about to come upon the world. The night before the fire fell on Sodom, the citizens rioted in pleasure, they threatened Lot and his visitors demanding sinful pleasure, they scoffed at Lot as he sought to warn his family of the coming doom; but those people died in the flames! That very night the door of mercy was forever closed to the inhabitants of Sodom. God will not always be mocked; "Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it" Isaiah 13:9.

The majority of the people will reject God's mercy, and will be overwhelmed in swift and irretrievable ruin. But those who heed the warning shall dwell "in the secret place of the Most High" and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty." His truth shall be their shield and buckler. Psalm 91

The time has come to prepare to meet God. The call of the Spirit in our heart of hearts must be answered. Everything in the life must be squared by the Spirit with the Word of God, His law and the everlasting gospel.

As radical developments take place in the formation of the Papal New World Order, radical, deep and thorough preparation for what is ahead must be made. All other preparation is in vain if we fail in the spiritual preparation. We must learn to really communicate with our Master and Savior making Him supreme in our lives. There must be time for heart searching, and heart cleansing through the power of Christ's blood.

Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.

2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Luke 21.35-36
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The Bible tells us that after Noah and his family entered the ark and the door was shut, seven days went by before anything unusual happened. The obedient ones inside the ark had to depend upon God's Word — for it seemed the predicted event would not transpire. Outside the inhabitants of the preflood world had their last parties, celebrating the stupidity of this paranoid old man and the deluded family members who locked themselves up in the ark. Silly, foolish people to limit their freedom in such a strange fashion and to think they expected other rational, people to do the same.

The flood did come! Filled with anguish the rioting crowd now began to shriek in anguish. "Oh, for a place of safety! O, had we only listened and obeyed we would now have rest from this dreadful fear."

Soon the party will end! Just like it happened to King Belshazzer, throwing a party while the enemy was at the gates, trusting that even yet all was peace and safety, so the party-pleasure- crazed world lives for self-indulgence imagining itself safe and secure while the greatest of enemies is at the gate and invading every stronghold, and God will soon step in to end it all.

Yes, there is a judgement. The investigative judgment is now in progress. The executive judgement will soon take place.

In light of the seriousness of the times what will we do. How will we choose to live? Soon the verdict will be pronounced — will it be like Belshazzer "You are weighed in the balance and found wanting." Or "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord"
ainting by Robert Temple Ayres
2 Peter 3.13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.

A righteous heaven is only righteous if the inhabitants are righteous. Thus, those who would be citizens there need much more than the legal aspect of forgiving of sins. They need the blood of Christ to cleanse them and the Holy spirit lead them into harmony with God's law. For the will must be united with the Will of Christ, rebellion cannot enter heaven.

2 Peter 3.14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;

The Lord is longsuffering:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Today! Harden not your hearts in rebellion, Today! Harden not your hearts because of the deceitfulness of sin! Today is the day of salvation. Christ is longsuffering, not wanting any of us to perish but that we should all find repentance in Him and be following Him in loving obedience to His commands.

But now Peter gives us an interesting warning.
2 Peter 3:15-18
Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

It is Paul's writings today, that are being twisted to mean God no longer has a written standard, a moral code. It is Paul's writings today, that are being twisted to mean grace does away with faithful and steadfast obedience to God's moral law.

Peter points out that Paul has given the true light, but people would wrest it to their own destruction. People would take the precious blood of grace that was to cleanse us from sin and trample it under foot by declaring obedience to God's law is not necessary. (Hebs. 19)

2 Peter 3.18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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Give me also this power!


9But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans


Acts 8:9-25.
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Friday, November 12, 2010

Keep me as the apple of your eye


Psalm 17


1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

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9th Anniversary of Flight 587 Crash

Barack Obama's colourful shellacking found its origins in India

By Christopher Howse
Literature
Last updated: November 4th, 2010



78rpm records may have been made of shellack (Photo: Alamy)

President Barack Obama said, “I took a shellacking,” after the bad mid-term election results for the Democrats. It sounds like something from a gangster film, as well it might, since the term is of American origin and became popular in the 1930s.

“These two bums that Lefty shellacked were members of Red Karfola’s gang,” wrote C F Coe in 1930, in his novel Gunman, which was published by Victor Gollancz in what has been called the first modern paperback format, retailing at the fairly steep price of three shillings. That was before quantitative easing.

We think of old 78rpm records as being made of shellack, though I’m not sure they really were. Shellack, a word used in English for 300 years, was originally a varnish (from French laque en écailles, “lac in thin plates”). And what was lac?

Lac was and is a kind of gum or resin exuded by a tree punctured by an insect. It was red in colour, and so in the 1550s it was called “Ye gumme of a tree wherewith silke is colored”. The word is from Hindi lakh, in ancient Sanskrit laksha.

From this gum also come our words lacquer, and, from its properties as a dye, the colour crimson lake.So Mr Obama’s language was more colourful than perhaps he knew.
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Source
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Obama to return home empty-handed: U.S., South Korea fail to reach agreement on free-trade deal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, November 11th 2010, 4:00 AM

Walton/AP
President Obama is in South Korea, and will visit Japan this weekend.



SEOUL, South Korea - In a stinging setback, the United States and South Korea failed to reach agreement on an elusive free-trade deal but will continue pressing for an accord in the weeks ahead, President Obama said Thursday.

Obama had hoped to announce a deal on the long-stalled pact while in South Korea for meetings of the Group of 20 economic powers, but instead he will return home empty-handed.

"We have asked our teams to work tirelessly in the coming days and weeks to get this completed," Obama said at a joint news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

"We don't want months to pass before we get this done," Obama said. "We want this to be done in a matter of weeks."

Prospects for reaching a deal seemed unlikely before Obama's meeting and subsequent appearance with his South Korean counterpart.

At issue is a pact to slash tariffs and other barriers to trade, one that was signed in 2007 when previous administrations were in power. It remains unratified by lawmakers in both countries, and trade between the nations has slipped.
Sticking points include access to South Korea's market for American beef and autos. The U.S. also wants the deal to address a trade imbalance before submitting it to Congress.

Ron Kirk, the U.S. trade representative, rejected characterizations that the failure to reach agreement on trade was a setback or defeat for Obama, who suffered huge losses last week when Republicans won control of the House and increased their power in the Senate. Obama is on the third stop of a four-country visit to Asia seeking greater access to the region's markets for American goods, something he hopes will help spur job creation at home.

"The president's leadership on this has put us much closer to a successful closure," Kirk told reporters.

Kirk said Obama and Lee "wisely made the decision" to give the negotiators more time after it became clear that all the outstanding issues wouldn't be resolved in the final hours.

On North Korea, Obama said the reclusive communist nation must show a "seriousness of purpose" before the U.S. will restart six-party talks aimed at curbing the country's drive to become a nuclear power. He said there would be "an appropriate time and place" to resume those negotiations, but offered no clarity on when that would be.

Earlier in the day in a speech marking America's Veterans Day, Obama condemned North Korea for continuing on "a path of confrontation and provocation" that he says deepens its isolation from the world and worsens the poverty of its people.


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A legend in his on mind keeps MOVING FORWARD towads MDG



President Obama hasn't been hindered by his lack of influence (or failure to impress by his presence) at the G20 Summit in South Korea; He will continue to shrug off all the rejection that he may encounter in his political encounters. It seems that he is a legend in his own mind, and it doesn't matter to him who doesn't see things as he does since he knows he is right. I believe only the Congress and Senate of the United States can be bullied by him; as demonstrated by the way he forced through Health Care Reform and Wall Street Reform, among a few of his exploits. You see, Obama is only a prophet in his own land. A land where he has captivated and hypnotized half of the population with his antics and high jinx.

What a paradox?

What irony?

The rest of the world is not impressed by the Big Kahuna, the Indonesian Catholic Kid, by the ditty-bopping Windy City Slim, the Cool Junior Flip Ivy Leaguer, or the outsider President from D.C.

Obama will continue his delusion of grandeur when he returns to Terra Firma Americana with his empty hands, having gained nothing, but a gargantuan carbon (P.C. lingo) foot print. They're laughing at him all over the world. The little big man who thought he could impress folks around the world with his verbal gymnastics. The Toaster in Chief has not, and will not admit a defeat. Yet, the real victims are the American People who have to put up with Mr. Prima Donna for 2 more years. Meanwhile, the world laughs not only at him, but also at us.




The world leaders are probably murmuring amongst
themselves?



What a maroon?
Those dingbats voted for that Paper Back
Gangster
?

Those Americans were hoodwinked, bamboozled, horns waggled, and
shanghaied; but not Seouled!


Arsenio.

P.S. -Since Ban Ki Moon has headed the U.N., and Barack Obama has been president the roads near my home have filled-up with brand new Hyundais and Kias. Both of these car brands are South Korean, FYI. Globalism is alive and moving foward towards the infamous MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS - inspite of appearances...

So, do not, I repeat do not allow all "the theatrics" fool you. It's full steam ahead on the Celebrity Century, no hot water, spam for food, backed up plumbing, etc.

Hang on its going to be a rocky ride from here to the final destination!

P.S.2 -There was a time when it became popular to say "no MSG please"; When eating at a Chinese Restaurant. I don't know if people still do that? I haven't eaten anything at these in quite a while. But, the time has come to say "No MDG (Millenium Development Goals) please". I don't know if it will make any difference though?

A.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Jesuit Relief Service celebrates 30 years


Tuesday, November 09, 2010

By Speroforum

On November 14, 1980, the Father General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, founded the Jesuit Refugee Service, inviting all Jesuits to "care for those who have no one to care for them.”
...

On November 14, the Solemn Mass at the Gesu Church will be presided by Jesuit Father General, Adolfo Nicolás, followed by a concert by “Sonidos de la Tierra.”

Read article
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The Hidden Soros Agenda: Drugs, Money, the Media, and Political Power


Excerpt of article:


The Soros media connections include:

•An investor in the Times Mirror Company, Soros funded the Project on Media Ownership, headed by Professor Mark Crispin Miller at New York University. Whose purpose was expose “media concentration.” A total of $300,000 over several years came from George Soros’ Open Society Institute (OSI). In 1999, a survey commissioned by the Project on Media Ownership and the Benton Foundation and paid for by OSI found that seventy-nine percent of adults would favor a law requiring commercial broadcasters to pay 5 percent of their revenues into a fund for public broadcasting.

•Eric Alterman of The Nation has hailed Soros for spending millions on “education campaigns with America Coming Together, voter mobilization drives with MoveOn.org and research activities with the Center for American Progress (CAP)–where I am a senior fellow?” Alterman says his own magazine, The Nation, is viewed as out of the mainstream in part because of “the continued appearance in its pages of a long-time Stalinist communist, Alexander Cockburn, whose unabashed hatred for both America and Israel … tarnish the reputation of its otherwise serious contributors.” Alterman’s mentor, I.F. Stone, was a paid agent of the KGB and a Stalinist. .

•In the Los Angeles Times Book Review, Orville Schell said that Soros had written a ”succinct and well-reasoned book,” The Bubble of American Supremacy, which ought “to provide a welcome template for how the candidates might begin to think their way through to a more coherent view of America’s place in the world.” Soros had spoken on March 3 at the Goldman Forum on the Press and Foreign Affairs, sponsored by UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. The event was a conversation between Soros and Journalism Dean Orville Schell.
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•OSI gave $60,000 to the Independent Media Institute , whose executive director, Don Hazen, is a former publisher of Mother Jones. Hazen has called Soros a “progressive philanthropist.” A story carried by the Independent Media Institute on its AlterNet project says Soros “believes in democracy, positive international relations and effective strategies to reduce poverty, among other things.”

•OSI gave a $75,000 grant to the Center for Investigative Reporting. The group’s board of advisers includes prominent journalists.

•OSI gave $246,528 to the Center for Public Integrity, headed by former CBS News producer Charles Lewis, “to support the continuing expansion of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” A total of $1 million went for “the Global Access Project.” In total, it is estimated that the group has received $1.7 from Soros.

•OSI gave $200,000 to the Fund for Investigative Journalism. This group, too, features prominent journalists on its board.

•OSI’s “Network Media Program” gave $22,157 to Investigative Reporters & Editors.

•Soros Foundations have provided $160,000 to MediaChannel.org, a so-called “media issues supersite, featuring criticism, breaking news, and investigative reporting from hundreds of organizations worldwide.” The executive editor is Danny Schecter, a former news program producer and investigative reporter at CNN and ABC. It was created by Globalvision News Network, whose board includes “Senior executives from the world’s leading media firms.”

•OSI has contributed $70,000 toward the far-left Independent Media Center, or Indymedia, known as an “independent newsgathering collective,” whose servers were seized by a federal law enforcement agency on October 7. The action was apparently related to an investigation into international terrorism, kidnapping or money laundering.

•OSI provided $600,000 to the Media Access Project, a so-called telecommunications public interest law firm critical of conservative influence in the major media.

•OSI provide $30,000 to the Media Awareness Project, a “worldwide network dedicated to drug policy reform” and promoting “balanced media coverage” of the drug issue.

•OSI provided $200,000 to the Association for Progressive Communications, “an international network” working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment?”

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The Fed and the Debased “Imperial Dollar”: Future Inflation, Timid Economic Growth and Higher Interest Rates Ahead


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Fed and the Debased “Imperial Dollar”: Future Inflation,

Timid Economic Growth and

Higher Interest Rates Ahead

by Rodrigue Tremblay




"Under a paper money system, a determined government can always generate higher spending and hence positive inflation."

Ben Bernanke, future Fed Chairman (in 2002)


“My thesis here is that cooperation between the monetary and fiscal authorities in Japan could help solve the problems that each policymaker faces on its own. Consider for example a tax cut for households and businesses that is explicitly coupled with incremental BOJ purchases of government debt – so that the tax cut is in effect financed by money creation. Moreover, assume that the Bank of Japan has made a commitment, by announcing a price-level target, to reflate the economy, so that much or all of the increase in the money stock is viewed as permanent.”

Ben Bernanke, future Fed Chairman (in 2002)


“The Fed, in effect, is telling the markets not to worry about our fiscal deficits, it will be the buyer of first and perhaps last resort. There is no need - as with Charles Ponzi - to find an increasing amount of future gullibles, they will just write the check themselves. I ask you: Has there ever been a Ponzi scheme so brazen? There has not.”

Bill Gross, PIMCO's managing director


On Wednesday, November 3rd, the Bernanke Fed announced that it stands ready to resume money printing to stimulate the economy through quantitative money easing, an euphemism for printing more dollars. Indeed, it intends to buy $600-billion of longer-term Treasury securities until the end of the second quarter of 2011, plus some $300 billion of reinvestments, on top of the some $1.75 trillion of various types of securities, many of which were mortgage backed securities, that it has added in 2009 to its balance sheet, currently standing at a total of $2.3 trillion. There could even be additional increases in newly printed money as the Fed intends to "regularly review and adjust the program as needed to best foster maximum employment and price stability."

After the election of fiscal conservatives on November 2nd, it seems that printing money is the only instrument left for the Obama administration to stimulate the economy. I fail to see, however, what is “conservative” about that. Actively debasing a currency to stimulate an economy used to be a Third-World economic recipe, —A recipe for disaster. Now, the United States government feels that is the only way to get out of the economic doldrums.

But U.S. economic problems are essentially structural in nature, and are due to a bad housing mortgage policy, a bad industrial policy, a bad financial policy, a bad fiscal policy, a bad foreign investment policy, too much entitlement debt, severe demographic problems related to the aging baby-boomers, and to very costly wars abroad. Relying exclusively on monetary quick fixes to correct them misses the mark and may have serious unintended negative consequences down the road.

In fact, it is likely that in the long run, this extreme monetary policy risks exacerbating rather than correcting the problems. Economic structural problems cannot be corrected with monetary means. They rather require real economic solutions. That means correcting the housing mortgage mess and devising an industrial strategy, a fiscal strategy, and an investment strategy that can put the economy back on its tracks of economic growth.

But, for better or worse, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) seems to be the only branch of the U.S. government left that can still function properly, i.e. that is not caught in a permanent political gridlock. As a consequence, for the time being at least, bankers are in charge of the U.S. economy. Since they are the ones who created many of the current problems, this is not very reassuring.

Let's remind ourselves that the Fed is a semi-public, semi-private organization that has a long history of creating financial asset price bubbles in the U.S and around the world, essentially because the U.S. dollar is an international key-currency widely used around the world and is an important part of other central banks' official reserves.

Thus, the real danger is that the Fed will again overdo it and create unmanageable financial and monetary bubbles in the coming years. —It did it in the past. It did it in the late 1960's and early '70s, and we witnessed the same scenario unfolding with the Greenspan Fed in the late 1990s, when excessive easy money helped inflate the Internet and tech stock market bubble. We saw this again in the early 2000s, when easy Fed money helped inflate the housing bubble. And now, we're seeing it again with the Bernanke Fed. As a general rule, a central bank should not push the monetary gas pedal to the floor and be obliged to slam on the monetary brakes later, thus placing the real economy on a roller-coaster of booms and busts. That is not the way to run a large economy.

But because of the circumstances, the Fed may be at it again. This time it is busy creating a massive bond bubble, some important currency misalignments and a massive gold and commodity price bubble. We should also not forget that abnormally low interest rates and lower bond yields increase the present value of pension liabilities of most defined benefit pension plans.
Therefore, I would not be surprised to see a pension crisis developing in the coming years under the current Fed monetary policy. Of course, all of these bubbles are interrelated but when they come crashing down, four or five years down the road, maybe sooner, the economy may then be in worse shape than it is today. My most likely scenario is for the Fed to keep the monetary gas pedal way down until the 2012 election, and then slam on the monetary brakes thereafter to salvage what will be left of the imperial dollar.

If so, this could be a partial repeat of Japan's experience in mismanaging its economy in the early 1990's until 2000, a period known as the lost decade.

The current Fed's monetary policy is to flood financial markets with liquidity, i.e. newly created dollars, and, in the process, devalue the U.S. dollar, spur American exports and prevent deflationary expectations from taking hold and from making already high debt loads even heavier. For this, the Fed has been engaged since 2009 in round after round of money creation and interest rate reductions to the point of pushing short-term monetary rates close to zero and keeping short-term real rates negative. But if the economy is in a liquidity trap, as it is fair to assume it is, although a central bank can print all the money it wants, this is unlikely to stimulate the real economy for very long. —This is like pushing on a string. Printing money, if it is an emergency temporary measure, can help mitigate the effect of having too much debt and debt-service costs relative to income, as is the case today with many debtors in a debt liquidation mode. However, if this becomes a feature of monetary policy for too long, it can have disastrous consequences.

In general, it can be said that the Fed can manipulate short term interest rates by artificially increasing demand for short term securities, but inflation expectations are a big component of long term interest rates and are much less influenced by the Fed. Therefore, if the Fed's intention of printing large amounts of new money raises fears of future inflation, long term interest rates may rise rather than fall, and this is bound to hurt long-term productive investments.

Moreover, make no mistake, with globalized financial markets, a large chunk of the newly created dollars is flowing out of the United States and is invested in higher interest rate countries, pushing the dollar further down and these countries' currencies further up. Of course, some of the newly created money will immediately find its way in the stock market, but there is no certainty that this will induce already stretched banks to increase their banking loans to businesses.

Another consequence is this: The current outflow of U.S. dollars helps keep the dollar exchange rate low, but when the Fed is forced to aggressively raise interest rates, as it will inevitably be forced to do later on, the reverse will happen and the U.S. dollar will likely overshoot and then become overvalued. This is the case today with the Japanese yen which became unduly strong when the Japanese carry trade (too much cheap money invested abroad returns home) collapsed.

What counts for most people, however, is that the Fed’s zero-interest rate policy has not cured the structural housing mortgage crisis, since home foreclosures are still very high. The Fed now places most of its hopes on a currency devaluation, which is the old trick of the “beggar thy neighbor” policy, i.e. trying to export one country's unemployment to its trading partners by devaluating the currency. This was a form of protectionism much relied upon during the 1929-39 Great Depression. This may work for a while, at least as long as other countries can absorb American exports without launching their own money printing process in order to prevent an appreciation of their currencies.

Indeed, is it likely that countries which see their currencies being revalued by the Fed will remain passive? The Fed is implicitly making the bet that these countries will not retaliate, and that the international dollar-based currency system will remain intact. But for how long? Sooner or later, some central banks around the world will have no choice but to impose capital controls in order to slow down the inflow of unwanted outside money and the onslaught of imported inflation, and prevent their exchanges rates from rising too high too fast. If they do, the entire process of economic globalization may begin to unravel.

Meanwhile, foreign central banks, for example, could accelerate their rush to dump the U.S dollar and to accumulate gold and other more stable currencies such as the euro, the Swiss franc, the British pound, the Canadian dollar and the Australian dollar. China has already begun to do just that. The share of dollar official reserves would then decline from about 60 percent presently to perhaps less than 50 percent. That may signal the beginning of the end for the “imperial dollar” which has dominated the international monetary system since the Bretton Woods conference of 1944.

This is to be followed closely.

_____________________________________

Rodrigue Tremblay
is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Montreal and can be reached at rodrigue.tremblay@yahoo.com . He is the author of the book "The Code for Global Ethics" at: www.TheCodeForGlobalEthics.com/
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Many will betray and hate each other


9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 24:9-14.
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

No Protestants on SCOTUS


For the first time in US history there are now NO PROTESTANTS on the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS). Six of the nine SCOTUS Justices are devout Roman Catholics and their first allegiance is to the Pope, the Biblical Antichrist and the historic persecutor of God's true people. The remaining 3 Justices are "Crypto-Jews" who "have no king but Caesar" (The Pope).

SCOTUS interprets our Constitution and our laws. Soon we will see the destruction of the "separation clause" of the First Amendment. Then we will see a union of Church and State, where the Roman Catholic cult, together with her "Ecumaniacal Evanjellybellies", will dictate what our government shall do and what our National Religion shall be (Catholicism). Protestantism and Religious liberty is about to come to an end here in America!

Next comes Inquisition.....Vatican sponsored and U.S. Government imposed religious persecution of God's people. To deny this is to deny 1500 years of historical precedent of Papal persecutions, genocides, ethnic cleansings, Holocausts, Crusades, Inquisitions, and WORLD WARS! It is not inconceivable, yes it is indeed likely, that a potential of 100 MILLION Bible believing Christians, Eastern Orthodox Catholics, and Jews will soon be slaughtered in this country; all in the name of "Christianity"and "National Security"! Its going to be Nazi Germany all over again!

See what the Roman Catholic cult and her "Ecumenical Movement" has wrought here in "Protestant America"?

Tune in to "Inquisition Update" M-F at 10 AM Central, 11 AM Eastern at http://www.libertyradiolive.com/.

http://pcnohow.us/tweb/news/ProtestantFreeBench.html
http://www.inquisitionupdate.org/

Tom Friess
Inquisition Update

Three Christians killed and 26 wounded


» 11/10/2010 09:50
IRAQ


Three Christians killed and 26 wounded.

Appeal of Al Maliki


by Layla Yousif Rahema


A series of attacks this morning with mortars and homemade bombs. The prime minister pays a visit to the Syrian Catholic Church attacked by al-Qaeda and calls on Christians not to leave the country. Meanwhile the first survivors arrive in France, for receive special treatment.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) - Three dead and 26 injuries is the provisional death toll from a series of attacks against Christian homes this morning in different districts of Baghdad. Between 6 and 8 this morning, two mortar shells and dozens of homemade bombs exploded in front of the homes of the faithful.

Last night in the capital three other Christian houses were hit by bombs, without causing any victims. Despite this, the Prime Minister al Maliki is urging Christians not to abandon the country.

The latest attacks come only 10 days after the October 31 attack on the Syrian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation, and after threats from Al Qaeda to eliminate Christians from the Middle East. The attack on the parish killed 44 faithful, two priests and seven security guards. About 90 people were injured. Of these, the first group (37, to be followed by those remaining) arrived in France on Nov. 8 to receive treatment offered by the European nation, the only one to propose such support.

Yesterday, Prime Minister al-Maliki visited the church of Our Lady of Salvation and urged his fellow Christians not to leave the country. Praising the "noble" gesture of France, al-Maliki said that "it must not be an incentive to emigrate." He recalled that in his meeting with Benedict XVI, in 2008, had asked the Pope "not to allow the East be emptied of Christians, nor the West of Muslims".

"We ask - he said – for an end to the emigration of Christians, that the phenomenon does not return, and we will do everything possible so that the array of flowers of Iraq's communities remain complete and united".

Al-Maliki also offered his condolences to the families of the victims: "The equality of Christians and other Iraqis - he said - is a sacred duty."

Eric Besson, the French Minister of Immigration has made it clear that Christians survivors of the attack in Baghdad will benefit political asylum. "This message of support – he added - does not mean that France and Europe, are inviting the Christians of the East and Iraq to leave their countries. Rather it is our responsibility and desire to help them live in security in their countries of origin. "

On 8 November two other believers were killed in front of their homes in the Iraqi capital.

Before the U.S. invasion in 2003, the Christian community in Iraq counted almost a million faithful, that number has now dropped below 500 thousand.


Source
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Phenomena, Signs and Wonders in the Skies

New York City 2009



Norway 2009




California 2010

Transcript: Obama Speech at the University of Indonesia Jakarta


Transcript of Obama’s Jakarta speech

The text of US President Barack Obama’s speech at Jakarta’s University of Indonesia delivered on Wednesday.


Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta. And thank you to the people of Indonesia.

I am so glad that I made it to Indonesia, and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that has meant so much to me. Unfortunately, it’s a fairly quick visit, but I look forward to coming back a year from now, when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit.

Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians affected by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions – particularly those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been displaced. As always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to this natural disaster, and we are pleased to be able to help as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.

Let me begin with a simple statement: Indonesia is a part of me. I first came to this country when my mother married an Indonesian man named Lolo Soetoro. As a young boy, I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home.

Jakarta looked very different in those days. The city was filled with buildings that were no more than a few stories tall. The Hotel Indonesia was one of the few high rises, and there was just one brand new shopping center called Sarinah. Betchaks outnumbered automobiles in those days, and the highway quickly gave way to unpaved roads and kampongs.

We moved to Menteng Dalam, where we lived in a small house with a mango tree out front. I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites, running along paddy fields, catching dragonflies, and buying satay and baso from the street vendors. Most of all, I remember the people – the old men and women who welcomed us with smiles; the children who made a foreigner feel like a neighbor; and the teachers who helped me learn about the wider world.

Because Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, hundreds of languages, and people from scores of regions and ethnic groups, my times here helped me appreciate the common humanity of all people. And while my stepfather, like most Indonesians, was raised a Muslim, he firmly believed that all religions were worthy of respect. In this way, he reflected the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains one of this country’s defining and inspiring characteristics.

I stayed here for four years – a time that helped shape my childhood; a time that saw the birth of my wonderful sister, Maya; and a time that made such an impression on my mother that she kept returning to Indonesia over the next twenty years to live, work and travel – pursuing her passion of promoting opportunity in Indonesia’s villages, particularly for women and girls. For her entire life, my mother held this place and its people close to her heart.

So much has changed in the four decades since I boarded a plane to move back to Hawaii. If you asked me – or any of my schoolmates who knew me back then – I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that I would one day come back to Jakarta as President of the United States. And few could have anticipated the remarkable story of Indonesia over these last four decades.

The Jakarta that I once knew has grown to a teeming city of nearly ten million, with skyscrapers that dwarf the Hotel Indonesia, and thriving centers of culture and commerce. While my Indonesian friends and I used to run in fields with water buffalo and goats, a new generation of Indonesians is among the most wired in the world – connected through cell phones and social networks. And while Indonesia as a young nation focused inward, a growing Indonesia now plays a key role in the Asia Pacific and the global economy.

This change extends to politics. When my step-father was a boy, he watched his own father and older brother leave home to fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian independence. I’m happy to be here on Heroes Day to honor the memory of so many Indonesians who have sacrificed on behalf of this great country.

When I moved to Jakarta, it was 1967, a time that followed great suffering and conflict in parts of this country. Even though my step-father had served in the Army, the violence and killing during that time of political upheaval was largely unknown to me because it was unspoken by my Indonesian family and friends. In my household, like so many others across Indonesia, it was an invisible presence. Indonesians had their independence, but fear was not far away.

In the years since then, Indonesia has charted its own course through an extraordinary democratic transformation – from the rule of an iron fist to the rule of the people. In recent years, the world has watched with hope and admiration, as Indonesians embraced the peaceful transfer of power and the direct election of leaders. And just as your democracy is symbolized by your elected President and legislature, your democracy is sustained and fortified by its checks and balances: a dynamic civil society; political parties and unions; a vibrant media and engaged citizens who have ensured that – in Indonesia -- there will be no turning back.

But even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to love about Indonesia – that spirit of tolerance that is written into your Constitution; symbolized in your mosques and churches and temples; and embodied in your people – still lives on. Bhinneka Tunggal Ikaunity in diversity. This is the foundation of Indonesia’s example to the world, and this is why Indonesia will play such an important role in the 21st century.

So today, I return to Indonesia as a friend, but also as a President who seeks a deep and enduring partnership between our two countries. Because as vast and diverse countries; as neighbors on either side of the Pacific; and above all as democracies – the United States and Indonesia are bound together by shared interests and shared values.

Yesterday, President Yudhoyono and I announced a new, Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Indonesia. We are increasing ties between our governments in many different areas, and – just as importantly – we are increasing ties among our people. This is a partnership of equals, grounded in mutual interests and mutual respect.

With the rest of my time today, I’d like to talk about why the story I just told – the story of Indonesia since the days when I lived here – is so important to the United States, and to the world. I will focus on three areas that are closely related, and fundamental to human progress – development, democracy, and religion.

First, the friendship between the United States and Indonesia can advance our mutual interest in development.

When I moved to Indonesia, it would have been hard to imagine a future in which the prosperity of families in Chicago and Jakarta would be connected. But our economies are now global, and Indonesians have experienced both the promise and perils of globalization: from the shock of the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s to the millions lifted out of poverty. What that means – and what we learned in the recent economic crisis – is that we have a stake in each other’s success.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that is growing, with prosperity that is broadly shared among the Indonesian people – because a rising middle class here means new markets for our goods, just as America is a market for yours. And so we are investing more in Indonesia, our exports have grown by nearly 50 percent, and we are opening doors for Americans and Indonesians to do business with one another.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that plays its rightful role in shaping the global economy. Gone are the days when seven or eight countries could come together to determine the direction of global markets. That is why the G-20 is now the center of international economic cooperation, so that emerging economies like Indonesia have a greater voice and bear greater responsibility. And through its leadership of the G-20’s anti-corruption group, Indonesia should lead on the world stage and by example in embracing transparency and accountability.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that pursues sustainable development, because the way we grow will determine the quality of our lives and the health of our planet. That is why we are developing clean energy technologies that can power industry and preserve Indonesia’s precious natural resources – and America welcomes your country’s strong leadership in the global effort to combat climate change.

Above all, America has a stake in the success of the Indonesian people. Underneath the headlines of the day, we must build bridges between our peoples, because our future security and prosperity is shared. That is exactly what we are doing – by increased collaboration among our scientists and researchers, and by working together to foster entrepreneurship. And I am especially pleased that we have committed to double the number of American and Indonesian students studying in our respective countries – we want more Indonesian students in our schools, and more American students to come study in this country, so that we can forge new ties that last well into this young century.

These are the issues that really matter in our daily lives. Development, after all, is not simply about growth rates and numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about whether a child can learn the skills they need to make it in a changing world. It’s about whether a good idea is allowed to grow into a business, and not be suffocated by corruption. It’s about whether those forces that have transformed the Jakarta that I once knew –technology and trade and the flow of people and goods – translate into a better life for human beings, a life marked by dignity and opportunity.

This kind of development is inseparable from the role of democracy.

Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress. This is not a new argument. Particularly in times of change and economic uncertainty, some will say that it is easier to take a shortcut to development by trading away the rights of human beings for the power of the state. But that is not what I saw on my trip to India, and that is not what I see in Indonesia. Your achievements demonstrate that democracy and development reinforce one another.

Like any democracy, you have known setbacks along the way. America is no different. Our own Constitution spoke of the effort to forge a “more perfect union,” and that is a journey we have travelled ever since, enduring Civil War and struggles to extend rights to all of our citizens. But it is precisely this effort that has allowed us to become stronger and more prosperous, while also becoming a more just and free society.

Like other countries that emerged from colonial rule in the last century, Indonesia struggled and sacrificed for the right to determine your destiny. That is what Heroes Day is all about – an Indonesia that belongs to Indonesians. But you also ultimately decided that freedom cannot mean replacing the strong hand of a colonizer with a strongman of your own.

Of course, democracy is messy. Not everyone likes the results of every election. You go through ups and downs. But the journey is worthwhile, and it goes beyond casting a ballot. It takes strong institutions to check the concentration of power. It takes open markets that allow individuals to thrive. It takes a free press and an independent justice system to root out abuse and excess, and to insist upon accountability. It takes open society and active citizens to reject inequality and injustice.

These are the forces that will propel Indonesia forward. And it will require a refusal to tolerate the corruption that stands in the way of opportunity; a commitment to transparency that gives every Indonesian a stake in their government; and a belief that the freedom that Indonesians have fought for is what holds this great nation together.

That is the message of the Indonesians who have advanced this democratic story – from those who fought in the Battle of Surabaya 55 years ago today; to the students who marched peacefully for democracy in the 1990s, to leaders who have embraced the peaceful transition of power in this young century. Because ultimately, it will be the rights of citizens that will stitch together this remarkable Nusantara that stretches from Sabang to Merauke – an insistence that every child born in this country should be treated equally, whether they come from Java or Aceh; Bali or Papua.

That effort extends to the example that Indonesia sets abroad. Indonesia took the initiative to establish the Bali Democracy Forum, an open forum for countries to share their experiences and best practices in fostering democracy. Indonesia has also been at the forefront of pushing for more attention to human rights within ASEAN. The nations of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny, and the United States will strongly support that right. But the people of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny as well. That is why we condemned elections in Burma that were neither free nor fair. That is why we are supporting your vibrant civil society in working with counterparts across this region. Because there is no reason why respect for human rights should stop at the border of any country.

Hand in hand, that is what development and democracy are about – the notion that certain values are universal. Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty. Because there are aspirations that human beings share – the liberty of knowing that your leader is accountable to you, and that you won’t be locked up for disagreeing with them; the opportunity to get an education and to work with dignity; the freedom to practice your faith without fear or restriction.

Religion is the final topic that I want to address today, and – like democracy and development – it is fundamental to the Indonesian story.

Like the other Asian nations that I am visiting on this trip, Indonesia is steeped in spirituality – a place where people worship God in many different ways. Along with this rich diversity, it is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population – a truth that I came to know as a boy when I heard the call to prayer across Jakarta.

Just as individuals are not defined solely by their faith, Indonesia is defined by more than its Muslim population. But we also know that relations between the United States and Muslim communities have frayed over many years. As President, I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations. As a part of that effort, I went to Cairo last June, and called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world – one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences.

I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust. But I believed then, and I believe today, that we have a choice. We can choose to be defined by our differences, and give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground, and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of progress. And I can promise you – no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress. That is who we are. That is what we have done. That is what we will do.

We know well the issues that have caused tensions for many years – issues that I addressed in Cairo. In the 17 months that have passed we have made some progress, but much more work remains to be done.

Innocent civilians in America, Indonesia, and across the world are still targeted by violent extremists. I have made it clear that America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion – certainly not a great, world religion like Islam. But those who want to build must not cede ground to terrorists who seek to destroy. This is not a task for America alone. Indeed, here in Indonesia, you have made progress in rooting out terrorists and combating violent extremism.
In Afghanistan, we continue to work with a coalition of nations to build the capacity of the Afghan government to secure its future. Our shared interest is in building peace in a war-torn land – a peace that provides no safe-haven for violent extremists, and that provides hope for the Afghan people.

Meanwhile, we have made progress on one of our core commitments - our effort to end the war in Iraq. 100,000 American troops have left Iraq. Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their security. And we will continue to support Iraq as it forms an inclusive government and we bring all of our troops home.

In the Middle East, we have faced false starts and setbacks, but we have been persistent in our pursuit of peace. Israelis and Palestinians restarted direct talks, but enormous obstacles remain. There should be no illusions that peace and security will come easy. But let there be no doubt: we will spare no effort in working for the outcome that is just, and that is in the interest of all the parties involved: two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

The stakes are high in resolving these issues, and the others I have spoken about today. For our world has grown smaller and while those forces that connect us have unleashed opportunity, they also empower those who seek to derail progress. One bomb in a marketplace can obliterate the bustle of daily commerce. One whispered rumor can obscure the truth, and set off violence between communities that once lived in peace. In an age of rapid change and colliding cultures, what we share as human beings can be lost.

But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia gives us hope. It’s a story written into our national mottos. E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ikaunity in diversity. We are two nations, which have travelled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag. And we are now building on that shared humanity – through the young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations..

Earlier today, I visited the Istiqlal mosque – a place of worship that was still under construction when I lived in Jakarta. I admired its soaring minaret, imposing dome, and welcoming space. But its name and history also speak to what makes Indonesia great. Istiqlal means independence, and its construction was in part a testament to the nation’s struggle for freedom. Moreover, this house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect.

Such is Indonesia’s spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia’s inclusive philosophy, Pancasila. Across an archipelago that contains some of God’s most beautiful creations, islands rising above an ocean named for peace, people choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Development is strengthened by an emerging democracy. Ancient traditions endure, even as a rising power is on the move.

That is not to say that Indonesia is without imperfections. No country is. But here can be found the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion – that ability to see yourself in all individuals. As a child of a different race coming from a distant country, I found this spirit in the greeting that I received upon moving here: Selamat Datang. As a Christian visiting a mosque on this visit, I found it in the words of a leader who was asked about my visit and said, “Muslims are also allowed in churches. We are all God’s followers.”

That spark of the divine lies within each of us. We cannot give in to doubt or cynicism or despair. The stories of Indonesia and America tell us that history is on the side of human progress; that unity is more powerful than division; and that the people of this world can live together in peace. May our two nations work together, with faith and determination, to share these truths with all mankind.

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Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Obama Launches Historic Speech at University of Indonesia

Obama Launches Historic Speech at University of Indonesia

November 10, 2010


Jakarta. United States President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that Muslim-majority Indonesia’s national philosophy of unity between people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds was an inspiration to the world.

“This is the foundation of Indonesia’s example to the world, and this is why Indonesia will play such an important role in the 21st century,” Obama said in a speech at the University of Indonesia during a visit to Jakarta.

Obama also reiterated his determination to push past obstacles to peace in the Middle East, saying the United States has been persistent in the pursuit of peace, despite a history of false starts and setbacks.

The president says enormous obstacles remain, but the United States was committed to overcoming them.

He said the US would spare no effort to reach the goal of two states — Israel and Palestine — living side by side in peace.

In a speech that praised Indonesia, he also reiterated his call for a new beginning between the US and Muslim world.

Some of the 7,500 people that packed that 5,000-seat capacity Balairung UI, University of Indonesia's main function hall, were up at the wee hours of the morning to gather at Parkir Timur Senayan in South Jakarta, where chartered buses were provided to ferry them to the Depok campus. No cars were allowed inside the campus for the event.

Among the hundreds who were at Senayan by 5 a.m., given a blue wristband as they boarded the buses, were Jakarta Globe columnist and Metro TV anchor Desi Anwar; former Miss Indonesia Nadine Chandrawinata; former spokesman of the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, Wimar Witoelar; political analyst Imam Prasodjo and senior journalists such as RCTI chief editor Arief Suditomo.

Special guests seen seated at the VIP section of the hall included former President BJ Habibie, Women Empowerment Minister Linda Gumelar, Education Minister M Nuh and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng.

Agencies/JG

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Obama Visits Indonesia’s Istiqlal Mosque

Obama Visits Indonesia’s Istiqlal Mosque

November 10, 2010




United States President Barack Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, walking with Grand Imam Yaqub during a visit to Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on Wednesday. Obama is expected to deliver a speech on US-Indonesian relations in a follow-up to last year’s appeal to the Muslim world from Cairo at the University of Indonesia later today. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Jakarta. President Barack Obama visited Southeast Asia’s biggest mosque on Wednesday as he prepared to deliver a speech on US-Indonesian relations in a follow-up to last year’s appeal to the Muslim world from Cairo.

Obama’s speech aims to engage Indonesians in their embrace of democracy and the free market following the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998, as well as following on the themes of religious tolerance of his Cairo address.

The much-anticipated visit to the Istiqlal Mosque and speech at the University of Indonesia were the last stops on Obama’s twice-postponed visit to Indonesia.

Imam Haji Mustapha Ali Yaqub led Obama and First Lady Michelle — looking elegant in a silky flowing chartreuse pant suit and beige head covering adorned with gold beads — around the vast, domed structure in central Jakarta.

The Indonesia leg of Obama’s Asian tour is expected to be cut short as Obama tries to outrace a cloud of volcanic ash spewing out by Mount Merapi in Central Java, which has severely disrupted air travel across the region.

Obama arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday and told reporters he was “deeply moved” to return to the country of his childhood.

He marvelled at the transformation of the sleepy city of Jakarta he once knew into a bustling metropolis and noted the country’s parallel evolution from authoritarianism to democracy and a burgeoning alliance with Washington.

“It’s wonderful to be here although I have to tell you that when you visit a place that you spent time in as a child, as the president it’s a little disorientating,” he said. “The landscape has changed completely, when I first came here it was in 1967 and people were on becaks ... a bicycle rickshaw thing.”

Indonesia was the second stop on Obama’s Asia tour, after India, and he will travel on to South Korea for the G20 summit on Wednesday and end his trip in Yokohama, Japan for the APEC summit.

In Jakarta he admitted the task he set in last year’s Cairo speech of forging a “new beginning” with Islam remained incomplete and there was “a lot more work to do.”

“We don’t expect that we are going to completely eliminate some of the misunderstandings and mistrust that have developed over a long period of time, but we do think that we’re on the right path,” he told reporters at a joint press conference with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.


Agence France-Presse

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