A Deo et Rege

A 114 year old woman was recently baptized in Taiwan. In a time of often bad news, this is a happy exception!

I currently dislike all candidates in the field, both Democrat and Republican, except one: Ron Paul. And if Chuck Hagel ever declares, I would consider him an exception as well. The mainstream candidates from both parties would give us unrestricted free trade (US jobs be damned), endless interventions (even if they do condemn Bush’s foray into Iraq), no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (in fact, most would escalate it), and more regulations and controls on free speech, basic rights, guns, and a host of other things. I think there is one candidate in the field whom the founding fathers would recognize as one of their own: once again, Ron Paul. He mentions on his website:

He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Sounds great to me! He’s also strongly pro-life.

I recently got a letter from him asking for funds. I don’t as a rule give to candidates, but once I get more money in the bank, he also may prove an exception in this way as well. Although my mind is not made up just yet, I am leaning strongly towards Ron Paul.

Many in the media cannot fathom gun ownership and rights. It’s not even on their radar. Most have probably never even seen a firearm in person or handled one. Mind you, they don’t have to agree with me on gun issues, but I believe they at least need to be informed. In terms of being informed, however, the media is about as bad on guns as they are on religion.

Here are two examples. First, I heard (or read in subtitles since I was at the YMCA working out) a former city official from New York City saying how we need more gun control laws, including ways to stop “psychos” from getting concealed weapon permits. Of course, it didn’t occur to him that a) this shooter didn’t have a CCL; he simply broke an already existing law by concealing his weapon and b) every CCL law on the book stops “psychos” from getting a permit through background checks, training, and a waiting period. Second, and with even more ignorance, Lawrence O’Donnell from MSNBC mentioned on the McLaughlin Group how the shooter used an automatic weapon and was able to “spray” bullets rather than having to press the trigger each time. Actually, the killer used semi-automatic handguns, which means he did, in fact, have to press the trigger each time. Pat Buchanan corrected him at least, not that he listened. Still, I’m sure many people will bewail the “fact” that the killers could so easily get “automatic” handguns. I am a recent convert to gun rights from gun control and will probably comment on this in the future.

And yes, I do watch the McLaughlin group. I look forward to it every Friday.

Update: Joe Leonardi comments on the same incident (Thanks to Dee)

A Catholic Life Blog has posted a list of those in the blog world who entered the Catholic Church this Easter. Have a look and drop them a line of congratulations.

There’s something very special about the Good Friday liturgy. It’s sparse and dignified. If one is still hungry from the Good Friday fast, it creates even more of a sense of identification with Jesus (not that we can approximate it, but good Catholic liturgy gets us closest) and his sufferings and death.

The most meaningful part of the service for me is the veneration of the cross. It’s especially humbling to bow before the cross and kiss it. It creates in me a real sense of recognition of the sacrifice made by Jesus and the need for total submission to live at the foot of the Cross, our hope.