Greek Orthodox Christian Hierarchs Give Prayers at both Republican & Democrat National Conventions

On August 29, 2012, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, who represented His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, offered the Orthodox Christian prayer at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL. The prayer was offered immediately following the acceptance speech of vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan. Originally, the Archbishop was scheduled to offer the benediction but was unable to do so due to his travel to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.

Metropolitan Methodios also met with several officials of the Republican Party including the Greek Orthodox Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus, who is a member of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America.

Below is the prayer offered at this evening's Republican National Convention:

+Let us pray,

"O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth Who is ever present and fills all things, the Treasure of all blessings and source of life, we beseech you to dwell in our hearts" as we hold in prayer our brethren who suffer the ravages of Hurricane Isaac. Embrace them in your love and keep them safe. Enable us to reach out to them in acts of philanthropy and generosity.

As we close this evening's program, we pray that You bless and inspire the delegates of this Republican Convention to be your devoted servants and dedicated citizens of our great country. They have nominated two of your faithful sons, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, to serve the highest offices of this beloved land, a nation which has always opened its embrace to welcome "the tired, the poor and the huddled masses, all the tempest tossed to breathe free" a nation that has always been a model of peace, justice and the rule of law. Shine in the hearts of the nominees of this convention the radiant light of Your divine will. Imbue them and Chairman Reince Priebus, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with insight, wisdom, and boldness, with courage, compassion and competence.

Tonight, we remember the intrepid members of our armed forces who place themselves in harm's way in defense of our freedom, and like our Founding Fathers, are steadfast in keeping America the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

May every American be more sensitive:

• To the neglected and forgotten
• To those who have been victims of discrimination and crime
• To those who are hungry and homeless
• To those with no jobs and little hope

Help us, Lord, to break down the walls of enmity and distrust, and show us the way to a new era of peace, equality and opportunity. Strengthen the hand of America as it reaches out to clasp the hands of our brethren throughout the world to build bridges of understanding. May we rediscover the path that leads one to another, and all to You.

Amen.+

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, representing Archbishop Demetrios of America delivered today, shortly after 5 p.m. (EDT), the invocation at the official opening of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC. Originally, Archbishop Demetrios was scheduled to offer the opening prayer, at the invitation of President Barack Obama, but was unable to do so due to his travel schedule.

While in Charlotte, Metropolitan Nicholas met with several officials of the Democratic Party.

The text of the uplifting prayer as delivered by Metropolitan Nicholas follows:

+O God most pure and Author of all creation;
As you spoke to us of old,
Speak to our hearts anew;

You who had fellowship with Abraham and Sarah,
Come and stay in our midst;

As You led your people through the wilderness,
Lead us now, as the Democratic National Convention opens its deliberations
for the benefit of the people and the land of these United States;

You have brought us here from every place on earth, that Native Americans and Immigrant Americans, People of Color and of every Tongue,
might find not just hope, but a land which seeks life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Grant to all here a deep and abiding respect for the task at hand, so that our common efforts will perfect our desire that law and government be for, by and of the people.

Assist us to set aside personal differences, so that our unity of purpose will be rise above us all as an enduring symbol of freedom.

Let freedom reign in our hearts so that we would never fear to lead the oppressed to freedom; never fear to give shelter to the homeless and displaced; never fear to treat our neighbor as our selves; to give dignity and opportunity, as in Detroit and elsewhere in America, to the struggling unemployed and less fortunate brothers and sisters in this great land. Let us never be afraid.

While our prayers and assistance are with those affected by Hurricane Isaac, we trust in You, O Lord, that your gracious love will be with our President, Barack Obama, with our Vice-President, Joseph Biden; with all of our public officials and those who serve the good of this Nation.

We ask also that You preserve and protect those who stand in harm’s way, as they defend and serve for the benefit of all.

Come and be with us, O Mighty God, as fortress and deliverer, so that through You, and by the faithful and strong leadership of our government, we shall rejoice knowing that our children and our children’s children will know peace and every blessing.

To You be glory forever.
Amen.+

Personally, I think Metropolitan Methodios did a better job, as he not only talked about things the RNC agreed with, but some things that some in the RNC would not agree too. Metropolitan Nicholas' seemed to be more in line with what the DNC would want to hear. Politicians should be made to feel uncomfortable about wrong stances, IMO.

---

History of the See of Saint Andrew the First-Called: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Contantinople

Following the establishment of Constantinople (the ancient city of Byzantium) as the state capital of the Roman Empire in the early part of the fourth century, a series of significant ecclesiastical events saw the status of the Bishop of New Rome (as Constantinople was then called) elevated to its current position and privilege. The Church of Constantinople is traditionally regarded as being founded by St. Andrew, the “first-called” of the Apostles. The 3rd canon of the Second Ecumenical Council held in Constantinople (381) conferred upon the bishop of this city second rank after the Bishop of Rome. Less than a century later, the 28th canon of the Fourth Ecumenical Council held in Chalcedon (451) offered Constantinople equal ranking to Rome and special responsibilities throughout the rest of the world and expanding its jurisdiction to territories hitherto unclaimed.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate holds an honorary primacy among the autocephalous, or ecclesiastically independent, Churches. It enjoys the privilege of serving as “first among equals.” It is also known as the “Roman” Patriarchate (hence the Turkish phrase: Rum Patrikhanesi), recalling its historical source as the Church of New Rome, the new capital of the Roman Empire, transferred in 330 from Old Rome to Byzantium by Constantine the Great. The first bishop of the city of Byzantium was St. Stachys (38–54), a disciple of the Apostle Andrew. In 330, Byzantium was renamed Constantinople and New Rome, while its bishopric was elevated to an archbishopric. The Metropolitan of Heraclea, to whom Byzantium was formerly subject, now came under the jurisdiction of Constantinople and enjoyed the privileges of the latter’s most senior see.

As a title, the phrase “Ecumenical Patriarchate” dates from the sixth century and belongs exclusively to the Archbishop of Constantinople. The Great Schism of 1054—in fact the culmination of a gradual estrangement over many centuries—resulted in formal separation between the Churches of the East and the West, granting Constantinople sole authority and jurisdiction over the Orthodox Churches throughout the world.

After the capture of Constantinople by the Latins during the Fourth Crusade (1204), the Ecumenical Patriarchate was transferred to Nicaea (1206), but Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologos restored it to Constantinople when he recaptured the city in 1261. When Constantinople became the capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1453, the Ecumenical Patriarch (at the time, Gennadius II) was recognized as Ethnarch of the Orthodox peoples, with increased authority over the Eastern Patriarchates and the Balkan Churches, as well as farther afield.

From that time, the Ecumenical Patriarchate became a symbol of unity, rendering service and solidarity to the Eastern Churches. In difficult periods, the Ecumenical Patriarchate was consulted for the resolution of problems. Frequently, patriarchs of other Churches would reside in Constantinople, which was the venue for meetings of the Holy Synod that was chaired by the Ecumenical Patriarch.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate also sponsored missionary growth through the centuries, the most notable of which was the conversion of the Kievan Rus in the tenth century and the most recent of which was the missionary work in Southeast Asia in the last century. This pastoral role and responsibility has earned the characterization of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as “the golden beacon of Orthodoxy, preserving the unwaning brilliance of Christianity.”

Bishops of Byzantium (until 330)
The Apostle St. Andrew was the first to preach the Gospel of Christ in Constantinople, apointing one of the 70, St. Stachys, as her bishop. He went throughout the Black sea region and on to Russia, where he planted a cross at Kiev; however, the full scale conversion of Russia would come much later.

1. St. Andrew the Apostle (founded in 38)
2. St. Stachys the Apostle (38-54)
3. St. Onesimus (54-68)
4. Polycarpus I (69-89)
5. Plutarch (89-105)
6. Sedecion (105-114)
7. Diogenes (114-129)
8. Eleutherius (129-136)
9. Felix (136-141)
10. Polycarpus II (141-144)
11. Athenodorus (144-148)
12. Euzois (148-154)
13. Laurence (154-166)
14. Alypius (166-169)
15. Pertinax (169-187)
16. Olympianus (187-198)
17. Mark I or Marcus I (198-211)
18. Philadelphus (211-217)
19. Cyriacus I (217-230)
20. Castinus (230-237)
21. Eugenius I (237-242)
22. Titus (242-272)
23. Dometius (272-284)
24. Rufinus I (284-293)
25. Probus (293-306)
26. St. Metrophanes (306-314)
27. St. Alexander (314-337)

Archbishops of Constantinople (330–451 inclusive)
On May 11, 330 the town of Constantinople was consecrated by the Roman emperor Constantine I on the site of an already-existing city, Byzantium, thus becoming the capital of the East Roman Empire (known also as Byzantine Empire).

28. St. Paul I the Confessor (337-339, 341-342, 346-350)
29. Eusebius of Nicomedia (339-341)
30. Macedonius I (342-346, 351-360)
31. Eudoxius of Antioch (360-370)
32. Evagrius (370)
33. Demophilus (370-380)
34. Maximus I (380)
35. Gregory I Nazianzus the Theologian (379-381)
36. Nectarius (381-397)
37. St. John Chrysostom (398-404)
38. Arsacius of Tarsus (404-405)
39. Atticus (406-425)
40. Sisinnius I (426-427)
41. Nestorius (428-431)
42. Maximianus (431-434)
43. St. Proclus (434-446)
44. Flavian (446-449)

Patriarchs of Constantinople (since 451)

45. Anatolius (449-458) (Patriarch from 451-458)
46. Gennadius I (458-471)
47. Acacius (471-488)
48. Fravitas (488-489)
49. Euphemius (489-495)
50. Macedonius II (495-511)
51. Timothy I (511-518)
52. John II the Cappadocian (518-520)
53. Epiphanius (520-535)
54. Anthimus I (535-536)
55. Menas (536-552)
56. Eutychius (552-565, 577-582)
57. John III Scholasticus (565-577)
58. John IV Nesteutes (582-595)
59. Cyriacus (596-606)
60. St. Thomas I (607-610)
61. Sergius I (610-638)
62. Pyrrhus I (638-641, 654)
63. Paul II (641-653)
64. Peter (654-666)
65. Thomas II (667-669)
66. John V (669-675)
67. Constantine I (675-677)
68. Theodore I (677-679)
69. George I (679-686)
70. Paul III (687-693)
71. Callinicus I (693-705)
72. Cyrus (705-711)
73. John VI (712-715)
74. Germanus I (715-730)
75. Anastasius (730-754)
76. Constantine II (754-766)
77. Nicetas I (766-780)
78. Paul IV (780-784)
79. Saint Tarasius (784-806)
80. Nicephorus I (806-815)
81. Theodotus I Kassiteras (815-821)
82. Antony I (821-836)
83. John VII Grammaticus (836-843)
84. Methodius I (843-847)
85. Ignatius I (847-858, 867-877)
86. Photius I the Great (858-867, 877-886)
87. Stephen I (886-893)
88. Antony II Kauleas (893-901)
89. Nicholas I Mystikos (901-907, 912-925)
90. Euthymius I Synkellos (907-912)
91. Stephen II of Amasea (925-928)
92. Tryphon, also Tryphonius (928-931)
93. Theophylactus (933-956)
94. Polyeuctus (956-970)
95. Basil I Scamandrenus (970-974)
96. Antony III the Studite (974-980)
97. Nicholas II Chrysoberges (984-996)
98. Sisinnius II (996-998)
99. Sergius II (999-1019)
100. Eustathius (1019-1025)
101. Alexius I the Studite (1025-1043)
102. Michael I Cerularius (1043-1058)
103. Constantine III Leichoudes (1059-1063)
104. John VIII Xiphilinos (1064-1075)
105. Kosmas I (1075-1081)
106. Eustratius Garidas (1081-1084)
107. Nicholas III Grammaticus (1084-1111)
108. John IX Agapetus (1111-1134)
109. Leo Styppeiotes (1134-1143)
110. Michael II Kourkouas (1143-1146)
111. Cosmas II Atticus (1146-1147)
112. Nicholas IV Muzalon (1147-1151)
113. Theodotus II (1151-1153)
114. Neophytos I (1154)
115. Constantine IV Chliarenus (1154-1156)
116. Luke Chrysoberges (1156-1169)
117. Michael III of Anchialus (1170-1177)
118. Chariton (1177-1178)
119. Theodosius I Boradiotes (1179-1183)
120. Basil II Kamateros (1183-1186)
121. Niketas II Mountanes (1186-1189)
122. Leo Theotokites (1189-1190)
123. Dositheus (1190-1191)
124. George II Xiphilinos (1191-1198)
125. John X Kamateros (1198-1206)
126. Michael IV Autoreianos (1207-1213)
127. Theodore II Eirenikos (1213-1215)
128. Maximos II (1215)
129. Manuel I Charitopoulos (1216-1222)
130. Germanus II (1223-1240)
131. Methodius II (1240)
132. Manuel II (1240-1255)
133. Arsenius Autoreianus (1255-1259, 1261-1267)
134. Nicephorus II (1260-1261)
135. Germanus III (1267)
136. Joseph I Galesiotes (1267-1275)
137. John XI Bekkos (1275-1282)
138. Gregory II Cyprius (1283-1289)
139. Athanasius I (1289-1293, 1303-1310)
140. John XII (1294-1303)
141. Nephon I (1310-1314)
142. John XIII Glykys (1315-1320)
143. Gerasimos I (1320-1321)
144. Isaias (1323-1334)
145. John XIV Kalekas (1334-1347)
146. Isidore I (1347-1350)
147. Callistus I (1350-1354, 1355-1363)
148. Philotheus Kokkinos (1354-1355, 1364-1376)
149. Macarius (1376-1379, 1390-1391)
150. Nilus Kerameus (1379-1388)
151. Antony IV (1389-1390, 1391-1397)
152. Callistus II Xanthopoulos (1397)
153. Matthew I (1397-1410)
154. Euthymius II (1410-1416)
155. Joseph II (1416-1439)
156. Metrophanes II (1440-1443)
157. Gregory III Mammas (1443-1450)
158. Athanasius II (1450-1453)

On May 29, 1453 occurred the Fall of Constantinople, thus marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. The Ecumenical Patriarchate became subject to the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire made the EPoC elect a new Patriarchate regularly (and charge them for the privledge of doing so) and so many times the same bishop would be elected numerous times in his life.

159. Gennadius II Scholarios (1454-1456, Apr 1463 - June 1463, Aug 1464 - aut. 1465)
160. Isidore II Xanthopoulos (1456-1462)
161. Joasaph I (Apr 1462 - Apr 1463)
162. Sophronius I (Jun 1463 - Aug 1464)
163. Mark II (aut. 1465 - aut. 1466)
164. Symeon I of Trebizond (au. 1466 - end 1466, 1471-1475, 1482-1486)
165. Dionysius I (end 1466-1471, 1488-1490)
166. Raphael I (1475-1476)
167. Maximus III (1476-1482)
168. Nephon II (1486-1488, 1497-1498, 1502)
169. Maximus IV (1491-1497)
170. Joachim I (1498-1502, 1504)
171. Pachomius I (1503-1504, 1504-1513)
172. Theoleptus I (1513-1522)
173. Jeremias I (1522-1524, 1525-1546)
174. Joannicius I (1524-1525)
175. Dionysius II (1546-1556)
176. Joasaph II (1556-1565)
177. Metrophanes III (1565-1572, 1579-1580)
178. Jeremias II Tranos (1572-1579, 1580-1584, 1587-1595)
179. Pachomius II (1584-1585)
180. Theoleptus II (1585-1586)
181. Matthew II (1596, 1598-1602, 1603)
182. Gabriel I (1596)
183. Theophanes I Karykes (locum tenens, 1596)
184. Meletius I Pegas (locum tenens, 1597)
185. Theophanes I Karykes (1597)
186. Meletius I Pegas (locum tenens, 1597-1598)
187. Neophytus II (1602-1603. 1607-1612)
188. Raphael II (1603-1607)
189. Cyril I Lucaris (locum tenens, 1612, 1620-1623, 1623-1633, 1633-1634, 1634-1635, 1637-1638)
190. Timothy II (1612-1620)
191. Gregory IV (1623)
192. Anthimus II (1623)
193. Cyril II Kontares (1633, 1635-1636, 1638-1639)
194. Athanasius III Patelaros (1634, 1652)
195. Neophytus III of Nicea (1636-1637)
196. Parthenius I (1639-1644)
197. Parthenius II (1644-1646, 1648-1651)
198. Joannicius II (1646-1648, 1651-1652, 1653-1654, 1655-1656)
199. Cyril III (1652-1652, 1654)
200. Paisius I (1652-1653）
201. Parthenius III (1656-1657)
202. Gabriel II (1657)
203. Parthenius IV (1657-1659, 1659-1662, 1665-1667, 1671, 1675-1676, 1684-1685)
204. Theophanes II (1659)
205. Dionysius III (1662-1665)
206. Clement (1667)
207. Methodius III (1668-1671)
208. Dionysius IV Muselimes (1671-1673, 1676-1679, 1682-1684, 1686-1687, 1693-1694)
209. Gerasimus II (1673-1674)
210. Athanasius IV (1679)
211. James (1679-1682, 1685-1686, 1687-1688)
212. Callinicus II (1688, 1689-1693, 1694-1702)
213. Neophytus IV (1688)
214. Gabriel III (1702-1707)
215. Neophytus V (1707)
216. Cyprianus I (1707-1709, 1713-1714)
217. Athanasius V (1709-1711)
218. Cyril IV (1711-1713)
219. Cosmas III (1714-1716)
220. Jeremias III (1716-1726, 1732-1733)

Not counted in this number is Callinicus III (1726) He reposed on the day of his election, but before his enthronement)

221. Paisius II (1726-1732, 1740-1743, 1744-1748, 1751-1752)
222. Serapheim I (1733-1734)
223. Neophytus VI (1734-1740, 1743-1744)
224. Cyril V (1748-1751, 1752-1757)
225. Callinicus IV (1757)
226. Serapheim II (1757-1761)
227. Joannicius III (1761-1763)
228. Samuel I Chatzeres (1763-1768, 1773-1774)
229. Meletius II (1769-1769)
230. Theodosius II (1769-1773)
231. Sophronius II (1774-1780)
232. Gabriel IV (1780-1785)
233. Procopius I (1785-1789)
234. Neophytus VII (1789-1794, 1798-1801)
235. Gerasimus III (1794-1797)
236. Gregory V (1797-1798, 1806-1808, 1818-1821)
237. Callinicus V (1801-1806, 1808-1809)
238. Jeremias IV (1809-1813)
239. Cyril VI (1813-1818)
240. Eugenius II (1821-1822)
241. Anthimus III (1822-1824)
242. Chrysanthus I (1824-1826)
243. Agathangelus I (1826-1830)
244. Constantius I (1830-1834)

On July 23, 1833 the Church of Greece declared itself autocephalous. It was followed by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1864, Bulgarian Exarchate in 1872, Serbian Church in 1879, thus reducing the extension of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

245. Constantius II (1834-1835)
246. Gregory VI (1835-1840, 1867-1871)
247. Anthimus IV (1840-1841, 1848-1852)
248. Anthimus V (1841-1842)
249. Germanus IV (1842-1845, 1852-1853)
250. Meletius III (1845)
251. Anthimus VI (1845-1848, 1853-1855, 1871-1873)
252. Cyril VII (1855-1860)
253. Joachim II (1860-1863, 1873-1878)
254. Sophronius III (1863-1866)
255. Joachim III (1878-1884, 1901-1912, 1901-1912)
256. Joachim IV (1884-1887)
257. Dionysius V (1887-1891)
258. Neophytus VIII (1891-1894)
259. Anthimus VII (1895-1896)
260. Constantine V (1897-1901)
261. Germanus V (1913-1918)
262. Meletius IV Metaxakis (1921-1923)

On July 24, 1923 the Ottoman Empire dissolved, replaced by the Republic of Turkey

263. Gregory VII (1923-1924)
264. Constantine VI (1924-1925)
265. Basil III (1925-1929)
266. Photius II (1929-1935)
267. Benjamin I (1936-1946)
268. Maximus V (1946-1948)
269. Athenagoras I (1948-1972)
270. Demetrios I (1972-1991)
271. Bartholomew I (1991-Present)

---

PIPA & SOPA: Constituent Response From Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Dear Friend: 

Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (the PROTECT IP Act, or PIPA). The parallel, but not identical, legislation in the House of Representatives is H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). I welcome your thoughts and comments. 

I did not cosponsor this legislation. By letter, e-mail, and telephone call, thousands of constituents like you have highlighted the potential pitfalls in the bill. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who was a strong supporter of PIPA, has withdrawn the bill from Senate floor consideration. I agree with this decision. Although there are legitimate issues to be addressed regarding so-called internet piracy, I believe that several provisions of the current legislation need to be clarified or revised. 

Protecting intellectual property is more challenging than ever before. For example, high speed broadband enables access to the entire catalog of movies, music, books, television, and technology. These protections should not censor free speech, nor should they hinder innovation.
Online promotion of counterfeit goods by foreign entities is also a growing concern. Assessing how to protect copyright, patent, and intellectual property rights — and doing so without infringing on consumers’ legitimate interests — requires dealing with a complex series of problems. 

Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind should this bill or related legislation be reported to the floor for action by the full Senate. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you. 

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
http://hutchison.senate.gov 

If you would like more information about issues pending before the Senate, please visit the Senator's website at http://hutchison.senate.gov. You will find articles, floor statements, press releases, and weekly columns on current events. 

Thank you.

---

China Promotional Video on BON 中国国家形象宣传片人物篇BON版本

The People's Republic of China has a new promotional video promoting stunning Chinese beauty, leading-edge Chinese agriculture, influential Chinese wealth, extraordinary Chinese people, aesthetic Chinese design, trend-setting Chinese supermodels, Chinese space travel, thrilling Chinese athletics, though-provoking Chinese scholarship, enchanting Chinese art, captivating Chinese dialogue, inspiring Chinese bravery, award-winning Chinese talent, Chinese friendship, everything Chinese, and China.

How many famous Chinese people do you recognize?

I first saw it on CNN at work and I liked the video. I found it very interesting that they used the painting of God touching the finger of Adam and one of the backdrops since the Chinese Communist Party is officially atheist.

Do you believe in the Constitution? Do you believe in Freedom?

Do you believe in the American Constitution? Do your believe in the First Amendment? Do you believe in freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of religion? Or do you only believe in your own freedom of speech, expression, association, and religion and will willfully and quickly stomp on the rights of others and on the Constitution of the United States of America?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Maybe you think a mosque will be built on the site of the former Twin Towers World Trade Center in New York City that were destroyed on 9/11? Or do you realize that 2 blocks away there is a proposed Islamic Center with a mosque inside, among other things like a gym? Do you realize that however ill sighted this decision might be, that it is legal and protected by the Constitution? Do you care? Do you realize how many freedoms we have already lost in the post-9/11 world? Do you realize how big of an excuse 9/11 is for freedom haters?

THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

If we allow the government to violate the constitution to discriminate against one religion, how long will it be before they violate the rights of another religion, and what about when it is yours? How could your rightfully complain if you were for violating others' rights?

With the government recently increasing Eminent Domain rights of the government via a controversial Supreme Court decision, will the government start taking churches who give them no taxes and selling the churches and their land to developers? Do you know of this decision that can allow this? Do you want to push us further own this slippery slope?

The Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005) affirmed the authority of New London, Connecticut, to take non-blighted private property by eminent domain, and then transfer it for a dollar a year to a private developer solely for the purpose of increasing municipal revenues.

People, we are on a very slippery slope, and if you let one group have their freedoms violated, do not be surprised when yours are violated, and do not complain, as supporting the violation of one's freedoms, you morally void yours too! Even if we do not agree with this Islamic Center being built there, we must support the right for it to be built*, if we truly love America and her Freedoms entrusted to us!

*But first, Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church which was destroyed on 9/11 needs to be rebuilt.

My problem with the Arizona Immigration Law

My problem is not with it limiting illegal immigration. I think that is great. What is not great is what it does to LEGAL Immigrants and LEGAL visitors to America. Currently, my wife does not have to carry her Passport & Visa with her everywhere, as she is technically a non-immigrant spouse. Once she has a green card and is an immigrant spouse, she will. So if we visit Arizona, she has to take her passport. I can live with that. But do these Arizona police, who are racially and accent profiling even know what the visa stamps and hand written information mean? I will guess that many do not.

But here is where it gets hard. When my wife applies for immigrant status and a green card, known as "Adjustment of Status" or AOS, she has to send her passport and visa in to the government where they may have it for many months. So if we live in Arizona, does that mean she has to be like a prisoner on house arrest? Yes. And that is where this very flawed law hurts legal immigrants, who we should be applauding and helping while stopping illegal immigration.

Obviously this law was written by politicians who know nothing about immigration law, which is why it is best to have such laws written by a federal immigration committee that does.

Voting by mail and choosing a POTUS and VEEP from 14 Parties

I just received my mail-in ballot and am surprised at the number of third parties on the ballot. Pleasantly surprised! But I wonder how they decide the order to list them. I think it should be alphabetical order, but I think it is in the numerical vote order for that party in the last election, hence the Republican Party is listed, followed by the Democrat Party, Constitution Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party, and so on.. I find it interesting that my new county of residence uses the retarded "complete the arrow system" and does not allow a write in candidate for POTUS or Congressman, but does for Senator. For the record, I am actually voting one of the 2 big parties for POTUS but 3rd party for Senate. I have to vote big 2 for Congressman, as no other party has a candidate running. Of course, not knowing the judges here, I am not voting for or against any of them.

While the POTUS race seems to be tightening up between the 2 major parties, it was interesting to hear on NPR last night that Sarah Palin is going rogue and standing up for conservative ideals and no longer staying on McCain's talking points, looking out for herself, supposedly due to her knowing that McCain will lose.

Here are the people on the Colorado ballot for POTUS & VEEP:

• Republican: McCain/Palin
• Democrat: Obama/Biden
• Constitution: Baldwin/Castle
• Libertarian: Barr/Root
• Green: McKinney/Clemente
• HeartQuake '08: Allen/Stath (Never heard of this horribly short-sightedly named party before!)
• Prohibition: Amondson/Pletten
• Socialist Workers: Harris/Kennedy
• Boston Tea: Jay/Sallis
• America's Independent: Keyes/Rohrbough
• Socialism and Liberation: LaRiva/Moses
• US Pacifist: Lyttle/Bassford
• Socialist USA: Moore/Alexander
• Objectivist: Stevens/Link
• Unaffiliated: McEnulty/Mangan
• Unaffiliated: Nader/Gonzalez

I think a couple of these parties could use come consolidation, like the 3 Socialist parties; The Green and Pacifist parties; and the Constitution, Boston Tea, and Independent parties; etc. Interesting to see that neither the Independence nor Reform parties are running any candidates this year!

Imagine how much better the Presidential Candidate Debates, currently monopolized by the big two parties, would be if they allowed at least the Constitution, Libertarian, and Green parties have their candidates debate too!

Of note, for ID, I had to enclose a copy of a utility bill with my address since I am a new residence of this county!

Learn Mandarin, Cantonese, or any other dialect of Chinese for FREE!