A story in Sunday's paper recounts how some area churches are noticing a drop in revenue collected from parishioners in the wake of the poor economy, even as the demand for the programs those revenues fund increases. The churches also noted that people may be giving to other charities first, since their charitable efforts are more obvious.
On the other hand, some churches actually see their attendance growing, and perhaps those members who cannot afford to give financially are instead volunteering more.
How about you? Does the economy affect how much you give to your church or to charitable causes? If you cannot afford to give, do you find yourself looking for other ways to help?
I read the article and I was amazed that we need to pay the high rental at Wentz and build 7 million dollar churches to communicate with God. Think of all the poor that could be helped if these groups continued practicing what they believe in the high schools instead of demanding all this unnecessary glitz to communicate with God.
Having said what I said, I think all religions including Islam, Christianity and Judaism are man made and not God made. No human being has ever offered proof of a communication from God. No human being has ever communicated with a dead person to see if they actually made it to Heaven.
I believe all religion is based on brainwashing and unfounded faith. It is for the weak who need a crutch to get through life. My last Christian Pastor did not like White Folks. He called them evil-doers. Can you believe that! I had to dump him and his church! I lost faith in him and my old church. Can you blame me!
Islam tells us Christians and Jews are all going to Hell. I say hogwash. Christianity tells us all Muslims and Jews are going to Hell because they have not atoned and saved themselves through Lord Jesus Christ. I say hogwash! Judaism says Jews are the Chosen People of God and only they can go to Heaven....and that Muslims and Christians are going straight to Hell. I say hogwash once again!
In this bad economy, we need to think of abolishing all religious institutions. At least make them pay real estate taxes and Federal and State Income Taxes if they continue with their programs of brainwashing the weak who need a crutch to make it through life.
There is nothing wrong with believing in a Supreme Being. I believe in God. But I believe in having a direct connection and not an indirect connection through institutions that take your money and use 90% of it for expenses instead of for the needy and poor.
Many countries in Europe have given up on all religious institutions. Many to the extent of 90% or more of their populations. We are usually behind Europe in our thinking out of the box. In the next 25-50 years there will be no religious institutiions left in the USA.
The younger generation in this country is rebelling and saying it can't be so. Circling some Black Kabaa Rock in Mecca 7 times is suppose to be the ONLY ticket to Heaven according to the Holy Koran. Can you imagine that! That means billions of Christians will never see Heaven as this was God's Word given to Angel Gabriel who passed it on to Prophet Muhammed on Mount Arafat! My Dad, a devout Muslim, read me that straight from the Holy Koran when I was a little boy in Hawaii. Apparently according to the Holy Koran, God changed his mind in 632AD and decided human beings simply asking the Lord Jesus Christ for forgivness was not enough to get you through the gates of Heaven.
I guess I can also claim God spoke to me and made me a Prophet. All you need to do is BELIEVE me and have FAITH in me.
What God told me is that all humans are equal including Chinese, Japanese and Indians who don't practice the same religions mentioned above. He told me he does not discriminate against any race, ethnicity, creed or individual person. He told me he will take care of all good people and send them to Heaven. He told me he will condemn all bad people and send them to Hell.
God told me if you murder someone you can not ask for Christ to forgive you. It is not that simple. He assured me if you murder you will be going to Hell before a Buddhist lady who spent all her life helping the poor and needy in her remote village in China. God told me that if you kill someone, you also can not go circle the Kabaa Rock in Mecca 7 times and come out smelling like a new baby who has a clean record. He assured me you will be going to Hell if you murder and there are no exceptions for 1st Degree intentional murder. And if you are a JEW and you think it is OK to kill Palestinians after stealing their land you will also not go to Heaven because you are the Chosen Flock. God told me he did not Choose the Jews as the Chosen People. He told me they are equal to all other humans...not better or not worse.
In conclusion please don't doubt me. Please don't ask me for proof.
Please believe me and have faith in me. And please send me all the money you have and I may be able to increase your chances into Heaven. Please trust me! Please don't ask too many questions!
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As far as what I am personally doing to help with charities.... Well, I am buying a sheep tomorrow, having it slaughtered professionally, and distributing the meat to the poor through a local charity. 100% of my 200 dollar sheep donation will be given to the poor with no middle man getting a single penny. That is how I like it. Tomorrow is Eid al Adha for Muslims and my Dad told me this is a good thing to do on this feast. Even though I am no longer a Muslim, I see no harm in helping the poor on a Holy Day!
I hope if there is a Heaven, my good deed will contribute to my entrance. No way of knowing or be able to tell you. Just BELIEVE ME and have FAITH in me that I can bypass all religions and MEET my MAKER! Only he can issue any kind of JUDGMENT on me. And I will accept his VERDICT whatever it may be. Of course, I have no choice in the matter....or do I.
OK, sorry to deviate from my presidential duties. I know we live in a country where state and religion must be separate and distinct. I promise to return to solving our economic crisis tomorrow after I slaughter my sheep. My job is to put money in your pockets and not your churches pockets. So please don't donate the stimulus money I will be sending you to your churches, mosques and synagoges. Please spend it at Best Buy, Walgreens, and Kohls so we can boost the economy again. Wal-Mart is doing very well so please spend your money elsewhere. Thank you!
Let's not make this a discussion on which is the One True Faith, because that can't possibly end well.
That was my point, Host Chris. There is no ONE TRUE FAITH and people have to accept that. So many people in this town are brainwashed to believe their faith is the ONLY TRUE FAITH.
My point is that we are all the children of God and all created equal in his eyes.
All these religions are simply brainwashing that has been passed down from generation to generation and believed by the ignorant and gullible.
In the Muslim countries where my father was born, the Muezzin calls the Muslims to prayer 5 times a day from the Minaret. If they don't come, he calls them Kafirs and condemns them to Hell. Muslims are slaughtered in some Islamic countries and kingdoms if they don't believe or have blind faith in the teachings of Islam. I am not picking on the Muslim relgion but just giving an example of BRAINWASHING. The Christian and Hebrew religions are just as bad. Trust me for I am your elected President and will never mislead you.
I met a nice Korean Christian at my health club, who attends a Korean Christian Church. I asked him about his 401k. He said he no longer has a 401k and gave it all to his church. I asked him why and he said the priest or pastor told him that would increase his chance to enter the gates of Heaven. He is 73. I felt really bad for him that the church separated him from his hard earned money by BRAINWASHING him. Let us hope there is a Heaven and the church can get him through the gates of this Promised Land. He sure paid dearly for the rights to enter.
The Jews are BRAINWASHED to believe the Palestinians are less than human and kill them and take their land in the name of the OLD TESTAMENT. They claim God gave them the Land of Israel and the Palestinians who have been there for umpteen generations should not have been there even though they have never been anywhere else.
If this is what religion is about, I ask you all as your new President, to dump all your religions. This is the United States. We can not be divided. Let us be united and have ONE BELIEF IN GOD and get rid of all these buildings representing mosques, churches and synagoges that are draining our economy. They produce nothing. They are tax-exempt while enriching themselves with rivers of money. They contribute nothing to the economy. They drain us. I am trying to fix the economy and I can not have anything draining the economy while I try to build it. Please do your share to make Amercia United once again under ONE GOD, ONE PRESIDENT and ONE NATION.
I have not dropped in what I give to organizations that make positive impacts in people's lives. The way I see it is: If I don't need their services there is someone else worse off than I am who does. So, I give.
"Dump all your religions"?
Haha. Yeah, good luck with that, guy.
I am the President. Don't call me "guy." That is showing a little disrespect.
If there is ONE God as we all believe there can never be more than ONE religion. God would never told us earthlings to worship HIM in 2000 different ways. One God would have chosen One Way. Humans chose the 2000 different ways to worship the SAME GOD. They chose the 2000 different ways to get through the GATES OF HEAVEN.
That is all I am saying my friend.
If you study these religions they all disagree with each other. They claim all other religions are wrong but their own. In my opinion this is ARROGANCE. Yes, all religions are showing ARROGANCE when they think it is THEIR WAY or NO WAY to the gates of HEAVEN.
I will soon be introducing a bill in Congress abolishing all religion. As I said in my first post, it is a form of brainwashing that was made for the weak who need a crutch to get through life. We need to find other ways to strengthen the weak and build their confidence. Separating from their money is not a way to strenghten them. Making them false promises based on some unfounded faith or belief is also not a way to strengthen them.
Thank you!
If you are the president I'd think you'd know how to spell your first name Barak.
I am spelling it the way we spell it in my village in Kenya. Did you forget that I am from Kenya and my Dad is a Muslim. Did you notice my middle Islamic/Arab name? We spell my first name without the "c" in my family village in Kenya. That is the name they gave me. That is why some fools in America still have not found my birth cerftificate. They can't even figure out the proper spelling of my name. The British who ruled Kenya have no trouble finding my birth certificate.
Did you know in Kenya we spell gray as grey. We spell many words differently than Americans. Do you know how to spell defence/defense?
Let us stick to the important issues and not focus on differences between proper English spellings and loose American spellings. I am a good speller. I don't even use spell check so you will find some errors in my spelling but not in the spelling of my NAME.
Another resolution I will be proposing to Congress is to adopt the English version of our language and the metric version of our numbers. As President, I can not leave us in the Stone Age for much longer. Brainwashing and religion are not my only agendas. And don't worry I am working on the economy right this second. I am trying to come up with a bail-out plan for your competitor the Chicago Tribune who just filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They told me if I don't bail them out they will be going to Chapter 7 and complete liquidation by Dec. 31 of this year.
I hope I will not have to bail you guys in the Chicago Sun-Times soon. What does you financial statement look like? Maybe if it is very strong, I will just let the Tribune bite the bullets and let the Sun-Times have a monopoly in the Chicagoland Area. You will have volumes of a million per day and 1.5 million on Sunday. Can your presses handle the extra capacity. Let me know before I make my final decision later today.
Thank you! Stay financially strong. I am running out of money and Kenya has no money to loan me for any more bail-outs. You Americans can be ridiculous in how you have your hands out for money all the time. In Kenya we would be embarrassed to beg for money like you Americans do every time you screw up! We bite the bullet! Having said that I am thinking of letting your competitor the Tribune bite the bullet to teach them a lesson and to set a precedent so that you would not think I will bail the Sun-Times or any other newspaper for that matter. We can live without newspapers in this internet age. But we can not unfortunatley live without cars. I hope you understand why I will be for the Big 3 bail-out this one and last time. That is it, tough for them! If they come back for more, I will kick them right out of the White House. I will tell them to go to the nearest Church and pray to God for money. As President, I am not going to be a fool and let anyone milk the taxpayers more than once.
Editors: I don't know why you humor this guy. They should be deleted. They're inflammatory and prejudicial and aren't necessary.
They're certainly not on the topic, I agree with that.
By kevin on December 8, 2008 4:58 PM
Editors: I don't know why you humor this guy. They should be deleted. They're inflammatory and prejudicial and aren't necessary.
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Hi Kevin,
I am being a little humorous but very serious about building a nation with ONE GOD and ONE RELIGION by the end of my second term. Yes, I will win the next election by a landslide...mark my words. I am tired of 2000 religions brainwashing their followers and separating them from their wallets in order to get a ticket to Heaven. You can not buy your way into Heaven. You have to earn it with deeds like Mother Theresa.
My comments are not prejudicial. I made it clear I was against all religions equally.....Islam, Christianity and Judaism were all treated equally in my posts. How was I PREJUDICIAL?
Are you some kind of Establishment Republican who does not believe in change? Just so you know I am more of a Napergatian Democrat type. Sorry we don't see eye to eye but as the President of this great country I have the utmost respect for all citizens and you are no exception. Feel free to dissent! I may learn something from you.
So what you're saying is that the "one" God would have told us all how to worship? If there was a God?
And because of this lack of direction, and because of the multiple directions humans have taken in worshipping God, you have drifted from faith?
It's not unusual to hear this.
I will just offer this. God gave us free will. In a way, he made us more powerful than He. With our own words, we can determine our place for eternity.
All he asks for, over and over again is our faith in him. People show it in 1000's of ways. It's their gift to Him.
If He demanded it, or prescribed only 'one way' to display that faith, free will would dissolve. And next to His Son's life, that's His greatest gift to us.
Remember, a gift that's demanded, is no gift at all.
I'm not sure why the obvious trolling comments are being allowed here by the moderator. They're totally off-topic and inflammatory.
No more posts on the nature of religion. This is supposed to be about charity, not religion or politics.
Why don't you consider a thread that would allow us to discuss religion during this Holiday Season?
No one was being mean here. Just asking good questions and wondering.
When you don't allow debate even if a little off topic, you can kill a blog site. In the past many threads deviated from topic and posts were made on a consistent basis.
Your initial position was that you would allow anything but libel and outrageousness.
Nothing I see posted here is outrageous or libelous.
The thread subject topic was about charity to churches and Barack Obama was just stating that he feels charities should be made but not thru churches since they in his opinion practice BRAINWASHING! It is his opinion and Barack is entitled to his opinion....this is a free country and not the Islamic State of Iran where there is no tolerance for dissent. Let us not lower ourselves to their level.
What you are now doing, Host Chris, is censoring the opinions of an Agnositic. I thought you would not ever be involved in censoring. Editor Tim West got a very bad rap for censoring the Napergatians. We all know that. He eventually discontinued his blog site due to failing or the bad rap he got for censoring or for some reason. No announcemnt was made about its closure.
He thought they would never call him out. He probably thought Host Ted would protect him. Kudos to Host Ted, he chose not to protect Mr. West as he felt censorship is wrong.
Please reconsider your position. When you censor, people will eventually have a way to go over your head to report your censorship. They could go to another media outlet to report your censorship.
I think former Host Ted really put an end to censorship at the Naperville Sun. Please continue his legacy and be brave. It is better to bite your tongue once in a while if you don't like what is being said, than to censor.
Censorship is abhorrent and not to be tolerated in a great Democracy like the USA!
Please rethink your position, Moderator Chris.
Thank you for your reconsideration in advance!
Oh please, no one is censoring anyone and certainly not because they are agnostic. I allowed several comments way off the topic but I want to bring the discussion back to the original topic.
What bothers people about your post is that you are pretending to be Barack Obama, not that you are talking about religion. If you want to discuss religion and not pretend you are the president-elect or that your views are his views, you can discuss it. And I know you are the same person because I can check your IP address.
To Naperville Editors,
One of my posts was held back and not published yesterday. The Sun Blog site confirmed it was received like all the others that were published.
Could you possibly look into why it was not published?
As you can see from my prior posts I do not libel but have strongs beliefs that all religions are man-made, a form of brainwashing, and meant to comfort the weak in our society.
I feel I have been on topic. I just want people to donate to charities directly and not through churches. Churches have huge ovehead. They are no longer built for basic use. They are built in a very glizty manner. Check the new Evangelical Free Church on Hobson and Wehrli. It looks like the Chicago Bulls Stadium with all its glitz, whistles and bells.
Now we have another group wanting to preach at Wentz Hall and pay big bucks for rent instead of paying little bucks or no bucks at a local high school. They are taking money away from the needy by paying the high rental fees of Wentz Hall of NCC. I simple disapprove of giving to churches that are wasteful. I am right on topic. Please read your SUBJECT THREAD again and you will see it is about charity and churches.
I have been more on subject than most bloggers on other threads and would like all my posts posted if possible. Nothing is wrong with a little humor and sarcasm when writing. It just lightens things up so people do not get agressive in their repsonses as we have seen time and time again on your blog site. By the way, you guys do a great job for the most part when not pressured by dissenting bloggers.
Host Chris was responding to the comments and pressure of a blogger! Host Ted when he first started would also censor and delete when bloggers first wrote in protest. He later matured and ignored all the pressure. He developed thick skin. I am hoping Host Chris develops thick skin as Host Ted did. Editor Tim West could not develop thick skin. He censored and now took down is All Points West blog site. He made the right decision. If you have to censor, you should not be in the newspaper business or trying to run a blog site.
It is really shocking that Mr. West who wrote for 35 years in the Naperville Sun would have not an inkling of followers or admirers. That should tell you someone needs to change him a little bit. Get him to write about more interesting topics that concern the citizens of Naperville. I think he spent too much time writing aboout himself and his pets. People lost interest in him. After he wrote about his doctor's visit in extreme detail, I stopped reading his columns. He became a columnist reporting on himself instead of the town he is suppose to report on. I am surprised Sun Executives would allow him to deviate so far from the goals of a respectable newspaper.
Thank you!
Host Chris,
Of course I am the same person and I know you can check my IP number. Sometimes I forget to insert my handle. I have only blogged under Barak and Anonymous when I forget to insert my handle on this thread. Period!
Host Ted told us long ago we can be identified by our IP numbers. We all have known that for a long long time....so you are not telling us something we don't already know very well. You also stated we can change handles. I don't plan on using this same handle when and if I blog on another thread! It would not fit the next thread most probably.
If you want full disclosure before using another handle please announce publicly and enfore it on all. Nothing like fairness!
Of course I am not the President-Elect of the USA. It was just a fun handle to create some excitement. We all know Barack would not blog on any blog site let alone that of a small newspaper.
Now if I pretended I was Mayor Pradel, I think that would be unacceptable as it is possiblle Mayor Pradel could come on and blog with us. I hope he does one day! CM Bob has blogged with us so it is not inconceivable that the Mayor would blog with us one day.
But in my belief, it is inconceivable that Barack would join us. I just chose Barack because he had a Muslim Dad, a Christian Mom and in my opinion a racist pastor who did not like White America. I am not making this stuff up. CNN showed his pastor cussing on White America. I felt that was disgusting of a Church to allow a pastor to cuss on White America. I commend Barack, the real Barack, noticed I am spelling his name right, for dumping his church. It showed a church could be doing evil things in the name of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I think that is despicable. That pastor should be arrested no differnet than the Governor. He was spewed hatred and racism. He should not be shielded by the cover of a Church he created to spread his BRAINWASHING to African-Americans that White America is a Bad Amercia. Not so, we just overwhelmingly elected a black man in the President's office and we are all very proud of him.
So I think it is all exciting, relevant and fits this thread perfectly.
Just my opinion, Host Chris! Keep an open mind. Narrow the realm of the subject matter one can discuss on a particular thread and you will destroy your blog site. Widen the realm of the subject matter one can discuss and you will increase your chances of success.
Let us face it this thread would have been dead without me blogging. You know that and I know that. Usually, it the Napergatians don't have interest in a thread, it is very slow. I think it is important to let whomever can push a thread forward, push a thread forward. That is all I am trying to do!
Editor:
I posted earlier, it was off topic but in response to previous posts. This blog is no no longer worth coming too. It is dominated by BHO. Merry Christmas to all, see you next year!
Anonymous,
The only reason I have dominated this thread is because of a lack of bloggers. Most people apparently have nothing to say right now or are Christmas Shopping.
I don't believe in Christmas Shopping. I think it is way too materialistic with no intrinsic or meaningful value.
I slaughtered a lamb yesterday and fed it to the poor. Not kidding!
Really did it and it felt good to give to the needy in these rough economic times.
So I have a little free time and I decided to do some bloggin.
Your tone sounds like blackmail. "I am not going to blog unless you censor this President-Elect." Might as well just come out and say it.
Host Chris decided he was not going to censor me. Thank you, Host Chris for allowing me to continue to blog and post.
Merry Christmas to you also, Anonymous, and I hope you rejoin on us on this blog site next year with a positive attitude.
No, the reason you have dominated this blog is that no one wants to waste time with any of your nonsense and foolishness. Unfortunately, I cannot recover the 18 seconds it took me to post this comment. Go outside, get some fresh air, back away from the keyboard, get a life. Now it's 30 seconds.
Narcissistic much?
In tough economic times one only has to look in the garage or closet. Many items can be donated either directly to the charities or at drop off points. I will say that in tough times I tend to give little or nothing to organized churches, rather sending what I have directly to food banks. Personally with the overhead of many religious organizations in the 80-90% category, I feel any contibution donated is in reality the price of attendance, thus not a donation at all. I don't mean to say religious organizations don't help people,quite to the contrary. Every person in the pew is in need of "spiritual help" as is the public at large imo. To receive this help in a "spiritual church setting" comes with high overhead costs, pure and simple.
Hey Barak,
Don't you hate it when you try and pick a fight with people and they just ignore you?! Like the crazy guy at the corner rambling on about being censored by czar like editors who are infringing on your rights of free speech.
What did you say? I wasn't listening.
Merry Christmas Editors
I hope you at least get a good laugh from all of this.
Closet cleaner wrote:
"Personally with the overhead of many religious organizations in the 80-90% category, I feel any contibution donated is in reality the price of attendance, thus not a donation at all."
That's probably true of money that you drop in the collection basket, though not surprising, since churches usually don't have any other source of income, and need to pay for facilities, staff salaries, etc. It's can be a different story, though, for money donated to charities with religious affiliations.
I am simply expressing my opinion. People can agree with me, disagree with me or have no opinion.
With 100,000 viewers on this site per week or month, I hope to persuade some bloggers to make there charitable contributions directly to the poor and needy and bypass the church infrastructure.
I think most of us agree that Churches need almost all the money they collect to brainwash their flock in order to support the church and pay their pastors and priests and their huge overhead.
If people make contibutions directly all their money will be going to the poor and needy. If they make them through the church only 10% will be going to the poor and that is if the church can even break even. Many churches are not even breaking even these days so are unable to help any person in need of help.
If we could abolish all churches in the USA, we could add a trillion dollars a year to our GDP. We would be able to get out of this financial crises that wiped out half our 401ks. Or we could give every poor resident of the African Continent approximately 10,000 dollars to get him or her on their feet. Give them shelter and food instead of watching them die of starvation.
I am just trying to think out of the box and see how we can make this world better not just for Americans but for all peoples of the world. I want to stop terrrorism by killing everyone with kindness. Show them we are a generous country instead of a brainwashed country.
We all know President Bush brainwashed this country to think Iraq was about to become a nuclear power to start a war for the sake of oil. He even acted like God when he decided to hang President Sadam Hussein. Yes, Hussein was most probably a very evil man but God needs to decide Saddam's fate and not Bush. I intend never to brainwash my constituents and never allow them to be brainwashed again....even by churches, mosques and synagoges.
I hope you all have a Happy Holiday Season. Be politically correct this year and say "Happy Holidays" to each other. No reason for anyone to offend anyone else by using ancient religious greetings.
I would like to see more bloggers express articualte opinions than give one sentence critiques of what others say.
How do you expect this blog site to succeed if you have nothing to say about the important subject matter?
Let us keep the Naperville Sun and its blog site strong.
The Chicago Tribune filed for bankruptcy as you all know.
What you may not know is that the Daily Herald now has a daily circulation of 1676 in Naperville. It's Sunday circulation is only slightly better at a dismal 1753. It is on the verge of giving up on Naperville. Unlike, the Naperville Sun they don't allow groups like the dissenting Napergatians to express themselves...thus they are failing and deserve to fail.
Let us not criticise Host Chris for not censoring. Why should he censor? Where does censorship get a newspaper? Look at where censorship got All Points West....dissolution!
If you don't like my opinions, show some brain power and express your opinions here. If I am dominating this blog, it is because you who complain are too lazy to write more than one line.
I did not become President of this great country because I am lazy. You need to learn to think and express your opinions in an articulate and coherent manner. Debate can increase intelligence. We can not be lazy and continue letting Japan and China strip us clean of everything that is dear to us.
At one time Wal-Mart bragged about everything that it sold at its centers was American Made. Is anyone old enough to remember those good old days when Americans produced instead of imported everything? Now Wal-Mart dropped its slogan and everything is Chinese Made. We need to do something about this and make sure we go back to manufacturing our own products again. Quality products may I add just like Honda and Toyota.
Under Bush we were living on borrowed time and borrowed money. It blew up in our face. You guys lied to the banks about how much you made and bought all these McMansions for inflated prices. Now I need to rescue your rear ends. Please don't do this again. Learn how to save like the Chinese and Japanense. Learn to buy what you can afford with your savings. Relying on debt is not a good thing. Rip up all your credit cards and go back to spending green cash ONLY when it is in your possession. Let us return this country to the great country it once was. If you don't, one day the dollar bill would be worth a penny. The Bush Admimistration is printing money like there is no tomorrow. This will lead to the devaluation of the dollar bill in a way most Americans could never imagine.
Just so you guys know, I am putting all my money in GOLD. If you want to buy Gold all you have to do is go to E*Trade and buy a stock with the symbol GLD. One day you will rememebr my adivce when our dollar bills say 100,000,000 million on them. In many African countries where I trace my heritage this has already happened.
So be smart my fellow Americans. Do not invest in the dollar that Bush destroyed. Invest in GOLD! Secure your future and guarantee your retirements.
You make some good points, Barack. But like I've said before, if you stopped calling yourself Barak Obama and writing like you were the president people would probably take you a lot more seriously. If you want people to debate you intelligently I'd recommend you do that.
Host Chris,
My choice of a handle is nothing but a choice. I don't see why it should disturb anyone. To the best of my knowledge almost everyone bloggin except for Tom Higgins and Councilman Bob has chosen a handle of their CHOICE. As I have.....
Let us face it people are more likely to read my posts because I have chose the CATCHY handle of Barack Hussein Obama. What is wrong with having some fun while trying to be serious? I am a very serious person with strong views. I enjoy debating the few who have the ability to debate on your blog site.
It appears most of your bloggers are "on line whiners." They offer nothing to the debate. Rather than criticising their President or asking you to censor me, they should question what I say. Dispute what I say! Prove me wrong! Enlighten me with their words of wisdom if they have any to share during this Holdiay Season!
Let the bloggers whine all they want. I enjoy trying to think as the President would think. I enjoy trying to get inside his head. I have followed him for a long time and admire him. What is wrong with that? Most Americans admire him and elected him for President.
I am sorry AIPAC who controls much of this National Media does not support me. I can assure you, I will not be starting another war with IRAN based on AIPAC propoganda.
No one is lauching an atomic bomb at anyone else. Pakistan and India have atomic bombs. They will not be using them in their dispute unless they both want to be wiped out. Iran will not launch an atomic bomb at us even if they had one as they know we would wipe them out. They are not stupid. They want peace with us. I will be meeting with them soon in hopes of one day having peace between our 2 great nations. I can not allow Israel to spew hatred and keep us from having peace amongst all nations of the world.
Once we let Israel smell the coffee, we will see peace thoughout the world. Israel is the basis of most evil in this world. It is why the Arab and Muslim countries hate us. Once we stop supporting Israeli racial, zionistic and apartheid practices, all Arab and Muslim countries will love us. I am the perfect President to appeal to the Arab and Muslim world. My middle name Hussein breaks the ice and allows undertanding to develop and flourish.
Barak Hussein Obama,
I am really God and I have a lightning bolt with your name on it.
Let's stay the course.
I'll take a stab at actually answering the post. Yes, unfortunately the current economy is forcing me to give less because I have less to give. I still give about the same percentage, but since the overall amount is less it results in less giving.
I have also noticed an increase in church attendance that I do not attribute entirely to the holiday season. I believe this to be, at least partially, a result of the economy and the current unknown job situation that many people I know are faced with. In tough economic times such as these many people turn to their religion for strength, guidance and hope. So the result may be less giving, but increased attendance.
As a side note: This free blog is meant to be a dialogue (interaction between two or more) not a monologue (a long and tedious speech by one). I have taken moderator Chris's suggestion and posted my own thoughts and will respond to those deserving a response. I will simply choose to ignore any that are not a serious attempt at dialogue.
By Thomas on December 11, 2008 4:54 PM
I have also noticed an increase in church attendance that I do not attribute entirely to the holiday season. I believe this to be, at least partially, a result of the economy and the current unknown job situation that many people I know are faced with. In tough economic times such as these many people turn to their religion for strength, guidance and hope. So the result may be less giving, but increased attendance.
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Thanks for confirming my belief that people are turning to the Church for a Crutch. Going to church and feeling sorry for each other is not going to solve this economic crisis we are in. Misery likes company. The church provides lots of company.
I am working on creating 2.5 million jobs to improve the infrastructure of this nation. Tell your friends at the church to be strong and apply for one of these jobs so we can get them on their feet again without the use of a crutch.
God will do nothing for us. The residents of Gaza have been praying 5 times a day to God for freedom from occupation for 60 long years now. For some food and medicine. Prayer has not worked. I am going to free them from occupation by cutting the 3 billion dollars we give to Israel in annual support if they don't give the Palestinians full rights. I will be giving them an ultimatum very soon after I am sworn in as President of this great country. I am going to do what President Jimmy Carter wanted to do but never had the courage to do until he lost his presidential powers.
God is not involved in politics or the economy of this earth. He gave us a brain to use and we need to use it. Let us all get to work and make this country the greatest country in the world once again.
JO,
God did have a lightning bolt on me and HE bolted me to the Presidency. I will always be thankful to my beloved God!
For you to refer to yourself as the Supreme Being is SHAMELESS!
You are an Earthling like the rest of us and need to look up to God and his Greatness. My Muslim Dad would always say Allah Akbar! That means God is Great! My Christian Mom also loved her Almighty God. And so do I! Have some respect and fear of God or he will you burn you with his next lightning bolt. He is capable of anything! May he have mercy on your soul!
To the hosts and moderators of the Sun. Sorry, in my last post I forgot to say "thanks" for hosting this forum for those of us wishing to participate in a dialogue. I'll direct everyone to the last paragraph of my posting (4:54 PM) if you want to re-read what I wrote.
See how easy it is to ignore?
Thanks
Thomas
Thomas,
You were unable to ignore me. You read my last post and then mentioned you ignored it. Who are you trying to kid?
I do believe you are disturbed by my beliefs. I am sorry you are. But those are my beliefs. I respect your beliefs. You need to learn to respect my beliefs as I respect yours. I apparently have an open mind and you apparently have a closed mind as it appears you were BRAINWASHED by some Church that you attend.
Anyway have a good night. I am crashing for the evening!
By Naperville Sun editors on December 11, 2008 3:24 PM,
Why are you humoring these posts by Barak-c? I'm not calling for censorship. Point or no point, It's desecration of intelligence to fellow bloggers and the name he is using. If this is ok with you then I may come back and write as Hitler.
"Barak". I think if you were better versed in Arabic it's Allāhu Akbar.
A little more history on your name, Barak. Barak - Hebrew: בָּרָק, "Lightning; Shine", or Arabic "lightning".
Is "Barak" the homeless guy that sits outside of the parking garage, I thought his name was Scott Huber...
Jo,
Lighten up! Barack is having fun, entertaining and serious at the same time. He is offending no one. He is expressing his views. He has a right to choose a handle. Only a fool would believe he is the real President.
There is no desecration of intelligence unless you already have no intelligence.
People have made movies about Presidents and even Hitler. Many movies with the permission or without the permission of Presidents or Hitler. Are these movie producers desecrating intelligence?
Barack Hussein Obama is simply being a character and playing a role on this site. He is being satirical in his presentations which has given him a platform to present his views that he believes in.
Based on the number of people responding to him in the positive or negative one can not dispute that he is very well read on this blog site. The most popular guy right now. Sometimes, it appears to me the bloggers who can not write and articulate their own opinions are jealous of him and his vast knowledge.
Obviously, Barack likes to think out of the box, and people need a while to accept someone who thinks out of the box. 100 years ago daring to think that slavery should be abolished was thinking out of the box. 50 years ago thinking that black men should have a right to vote in Louisianna was thinking out of the box.
It is good to think out of the box. Otherwise we would all agree and rubber stamp each other. I am glad Host Chris is open minded and allows various and all opinions on his blog site. Those who are complaining about the differing opinions probably never went to Tim West's site where only one opinion was accepted. I wonder why!
Gary,
"The most popular guy right now. Sometimes, it appears to me the bloggers who can not write and articulate their own opinions are jealous of him and his vast knowledge".????????????
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Sounds like you 2 are one in the same. You each get 35 virgins. Have fun.
Mary Poppins,
If Barack is the homeless man that sits outside the garage, are you the old and wrinkled hairy lady that no one can stand to look at in downtown Naperville.
What is wrong with you folks?
All you can do is attack Barack about silly things like his spelling which is better than most bloggers. Allah Akbar or Allahu Akbar! They both mean God is Great! What is the difference! The guy never said he was raised by his Arab/Muslim Dad in Kenya. He said he was raised by white Christian grandparents. It is good he knows as much as knows.
I think it is time Host Chris demanded that bloggers respond to Barack's opinions and ideas intead of attacking him and hoping a lightning bolt will strike him dead.
It just reminds me of when the Napergatians were attacked early on for daring to express their differing opinions on this blog site. Let us all grow up and accept that we are all different with unique opinions.
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Host Chris,
I thought you would be interested in knowing that the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News just announced they will only print 3 times a week effective immediately. The other 4 days, an abbreviated edition will be availabe only on the internet. I think this may be the beginning of the end of the print editions of newspapers. We may truly be entering a new era where newspapers will soon be obsolete. I once use to subscribe to 3 newspapers a few years back. For the last 2 years I have not subscribed to any and rely on the net. What are your thoughts, Host Chris?
I can see the Naperville Sun returning to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday like in the old days. If you want my opinion, I think you should to strenghten yourselves financially before it is too late. I would rather see this happen than see lay-offs. People really do buy the newspapers for their ads, coupons and inserts these days. Thus 3 days is more than plenty for most readers and/or subscribers.
Gary, I had not heard about the Detroit papers ending their daily editions although I did hear they were going to announce big changes. I don't know what would be in the Sun's best interests as I am not in tune with the financial side of operations, but I'm sure that the people who are will be taking things like this into consideration. The truth is that the news industry is in great danger right now and in two years many if not most dailies might cease to exist. A lot of people say, "well so what, I get my news online." But that online news is generated by the daily paper's staff, and the web site can't pay those people. So that's why it's a problem. I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope people who care about the news continue to support the print product.
Host Chris,
I think all newspapers will eventually find a way to make their money on the internet.
Yahoo and Google have made tons of money from interent advertising.
I believe the Naperville Sun will be alright and will find a way to make plenty of money on the internet when it abolishes its presses.
I have plenty of confidence in the Naperville Sun.
So you ARE the homeless guy! I knew it.
Mary Poppins,
You may be the ugly hairy lady walking downtown but I am not the homeless guy. I really feel bad for that guy though. I wish Moderator Chris would put up a thread about him so we can learn something about him.
Does anyone know why he chooses to live like that outside in sub-zero weather? Are there no shelters in Naperville that will accomodate him? He does own a computer and uses it.
I believe he has blogged with us. I think he runs for Mayor every 4 years and blogs as Mayor Somebody but not Pradel. I really feel bad for this guy. I have passed by him but he was always asleep so I never bothered him. Has anyone ever spoken to him about why he likes to live outside?
I believe he gets away living outside by sleeping in a sitting position. There is no Naperville Law that prevents someone from sitting upright on a sidewalk. But I believe there is a law that prevents one from sleeping on a sidewalk. Thus he learned to sleep sitting up. I can not imagine how his back feels. The cops should let him lie down or force him into a shelter.
I am guessing he is making a statement and is not poor or homeless. He seems to have an ax to grind with the Mayor or someone. I believe when they tried to evict him once, he took it to court and won. Not certain, but that is what I heard a few years back.
I wonder what his source of income is. He does not seem to be begging for anything. On the other hand even if he had a check coming from Social Security, how could they even deliver it to him since he has no address. I wish the guy had a car he could at least sleep in. I have a beat up van I don't need. I wonder if he would accept it. I doubt I could even get 250-500 dollars for it even though it runs and the heater even works but has over 150k miles on it. I think next time I see him I am going to offer it to him.
Maybe the Naperville Sun can do a story on him. Everyone knows of him. It would be a much better story than that of the ugly hairy lady named Mary Poppins that walks aimlessly in the downtown as if she had Alzheimers or some disorienting disease!
Chris,
Why was my post changed to Anonymous?
JO, I did not change your name. You must have forgotten to enter it. I don't even know if I can do that.
In these hard times it would be heartwarming to see people still try to reach into their hearts and their pockets to help those in need. Giving can be a great gift to the giver as well as the receiver. Happy Holidays!
And to Barack, why don't you take some of this well intended advice and back away from the computer for a while? Maybe some time at the local food bank or a jaunt to the nearest Salvation Army bucket will clear your head.
Well, despite all the nonsense on the blogs these days, I gave extra this year. People are in more need this year than in past years and I'm still fortunate to have a job and a warm place to live. It's my duty as a human to help my fellow humans. I especially feel for the little kids that don't know what's happening and why Santa didn't visit their house, breaks my heart.
Santa Claus,
You must have missed my good deed last Monday. It was Eid Al Adha and I slaughtered a sheep and fed it to the poor. It cost me 165 dollars. A local charity kitchen cooked and distributed it for me free of charge. 100% went to the poor and hungry with no middle man institution taking a single penny out of my donation. I must say, that is a great feeling that some church is not using 90% of my donation for administration and overhead at the expense of depriving the truly poor and needy.
I gave for the Eid al Adha Feast to celebrate my Dad's Muslim heritage. You probably never heard of that Holiday. I will be giving again for Christmas to celebrate my Mom's Christian heritage.
I hope you are doing something other than being a cheerleader on this blog site for others to give. Maybe if you visit the Salvation Army buckets outside Jewel one of those good men will pound his bell on your head, ring your brain, and bring your senses back while cleaning your tongue with soap. You are a disgrace to Santa Clauses across the nation. If Blagojevich needs to resign to salvage the image of Governors, you certainly also need to resign to salvage the good image of all Santa Clauses.
Have a good Holiday, Santa Claus, and spend some time giving instead of running your mouth on this blog site critiqueing others and their generosity.
I agree with Santa. This year, more than ever before, there is a need to help others. Our family gives our time and when able, our money. The holidays this year will be bleak for many due to the economy and loss of jobs. I hope those who have suffered losses this year (financial, loved ones, employment, our military) a Happy, healthy, and hopeful New Year.
To the one who thinks he is Barack Hussein Obama, I really wish you good mental health in the coming year. You seem to have 'issues'. Hoefully Santa will forgive your verbal assaults and bring you a nice book or something to better occupy your time. Obviously you rankled at his suggestion that you give of your time or finances to those less fortunate. Or, maybe you'll get that well deserving lump of coal. Happy Holidays.
BHO, where did you A. Buy the lamb, B. Slaughter the lamb, C. even understand the meaning of the sacrifice?
For someone that doesn't believe in religion or organized religion, you certainly do a lot related to organized religion.
"instead of running your mouth on this blog site critiqueing others and their generosity."
Did BHO really just say this of another blogger here? Pot, meet kettle!
Anonymous, you took the words right out of my mouth! I literally laughed out loud when I read that comment! Hypocrite. Not to mention the fact that BHO didn't seem to understand Santa's point. How could wanting to spread goodwill and good cheer cause Santa to be a disgrace? LOL! I think BHO needs to take Santa's advice and take a break from the keyboard. I think it's making him dizzy!
Mary Poppins,
1. I bought the lamb at the Mediterranen Market on Roosevelt Rd in Villa Park for 165 dollars.
2. They order it from a buthcher house that only deals with Halal Meat in Chicago.
3. When it arrived they asked me if I wanted to come pick it up and give it to the poor myself or have them distribute it in a Villa Park Mosque. I asked them to please distrbute it for me since I do not go to Mosques any more since I am a non-believer in Islam. They were taking 17 other lambs there ordered by others to distribute so I am sure they could handle an 18th lamb.....that being mine!
4. I understand the meaning of Islam and sacrifice as I grew up as a Muslim. I gave up on Islam when a Shiek at a mosque stated the Americans did not arrive on the moon as Allah, the Prophet Muhammed, and the Quran said it is not possible. I guess you can say I believed in the video tape I saw over the simple faith the Sheiks wanted me to have that it was not possible. Sometimes faith can be disproved.
5. I guess sometimes science can prove religion is false. The Muslims believed the moon was untouchable by man and the exclusive domain of Allah. Well, President Kennedy launched a project that got Men on the Moon and proved Islam is a man made religion.
6. And scientists have now proved that Earth has existed for millions of years by studying fossils and DNA. The Bible says the earth was created 6000 years ago in 6 days. Scientists have proved that not true. Thus Christianity and the Bible can not be true. That Noah's Ark story also seems to be a little ridiculous if you think about it. It sounds like a fairy tale.
7. Then we have Moses parting the Red Sea to cross it. Yeah sure! How come all these great events happened before the invention of the video camera. Now that we have video cameras no one can part the Red Sea....lol..
8. People are gullible and believe anything from a person of authority. We saw how Prosecutor Cuneo brainwashed the entire town of Naperville into believing the Napergate Man was guilty. He had some authority and people are brainwashed very easily by authority type figures.
I hope I answered your questions, Mary Poppins.
I do very little related to organized religion. I have Jewsish, Muslim and Christian friends. They go to religious services. I don't! I simply had a Muslim friend ask me if I would be wiling to sacrfice a lamb for Eid al Adha Feast to feed the poor. I said yes! I like helping the poor and needy. It makes me feel good to be compassionate and generous.
He gave me the phone number of the store, I gave them my credit card number, they charged it for 165 dollars and that was the end of the story. People made a big deal on this blog site over nothing. They wanted to know the gruesome details of the actual slaughter as if I were there or cared to see it. But a prayer was said in my name as part of the sacrifice. It is the religious custom.
I simply was responding to Santa Claus who wanted to see me give instead of blog. I just wanted to tell him I had already given despite making some time to blog. And that I will give again for Christmas. Maybe, I will give that homeless guy outside the garage in downtown Naperville some money. I really feel bad for him. Does anyone know what his story is? I like giving directly to the needy as I dislike middle men or institutions taking part of my charity.
People sometimes blow things out of proportion. You seemed like a sincere lady, Mary Poppins, as opposed to that crazy anonymous guy who wanted to know the details of a slaughter to prove that I had a sheep/lamb sacrificed. How ridiculous?
So if you feel like sacrificing a lamb next Eid al Adha, you know who to call. They only do this slaughter and sacrifice once a year for the Eid al Adha Feast. So start saving your money for next year.
I am not sacrificing any more lambs, because Anonymous grossed me out. I have been eating salads everyday since that moment. No kidding! He may have done me a favor as I have always wanted to become a vegetarian one day. I am now a 2 day vegetarain! I hope I don't fall off the wagon...lol!!!
Thanks Barack, I think we had a decent debate, I did know a lady that thought the men on the moon were also a part of a big conspiracy, it's a crazy notion, but that's what she truly believed. I don't think that's limited to Muslims though, I think there is a general conspiracy theory about the moon landing.
Someone dropped 2 rare coins into a Salvation Army collection can the other day, they were estimated to be worth $1100 each.