(from http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/14/22298718-israeli-minister-apologizes-to-kerry-for-messianic-remarks?lite)
(Moshe) Yaalon was quoted by the Yediot Aharonot newspaper on Tuesday as saying that the only thing that could "save" Israel was for Kerry to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and "leave us alone."
"Secretary of State John Kerry came here very determined and operates based upon an unfathomable obsession and a messianic feeling," Yaalon was quoted as saying. "Throughout the recent months, there is no negotiation between us and the Palestinians, but rather, between us and the Americans. The only thing that can 'save' us is that John Kerry will get a Nobel Peace Prize and leave us alone."
(http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/joe-bennett/8324052/Meteor-message-for-unbelievers%5C) by Joe Bennett An amazing thing happened in Switzerland last weekend during the annual Peace and Light Symposium. This inter-faith conference, renowned for its catering, had attracted leaders from every major belief system. Top of this year's agenda was the Russian meteor. All the theologians except the Archimandrite of Easter Island had seen it on television and were frightfully excited.
At the plenary session, held in the Davos Convention Centre, the Peace and Light Moderator told journalists that despite two days of commitment to the gravy train, the thinkers had been unable to reach a consensus on the meaning of the meteor. So the various factions would present their conclusions separately.
First to step to the microphone was a mullah, gravely wiping crumbs of strawberry gateau from his beard. "God is not mocked," he said. "And neither are his faithful followers. So when a member of the New Zealand Parliament chooses to denounce all 2 billion of us as misogynist troglodytes from Wogistan, it is hardly surprising that He should choose to express his wrath meteorically."
A journalist interrupted to ask why the meteor should have been biffed at Russia rather than New Zealand, but the mullah was not fazed. "Do you have any idea where New Zealand is?" he asked.
The journalist shook his head and conceded the point.
Next up was a cardinal from Omen Dei (De Imaginis in Pane Immolatis), the powerful Vatican committee for the interpretation of portents, cloud shapes and pieces of toast burnt with the image of the Virgin. "With all due respect to my friend the mullah," he began in Latin, "God could hardly have spoken more clearly. In the same week as the Holy Father resigns, whoompha. Coincidence? I don't think so. Our Almighty has a long history of communicating through celestial show, and this meteor is a clear warning to the Russian Orthodox church and other eastern schismatics. Now is the time for them to renounce their heresy and to return to the one true mother church. And I am assured by the Vatican Bank Enforcement Division that a suitable accommodation can be reached with regard to centuries of unpaid . . . "
"Poppycock," exclaimed a small man, leaping to his feet and shrugging off a straitjacket in what looked like a practised manoeuvre. He grabbed the cardinal by the chasubles and flung him into the wings, to applause from the Eastern Orthodox churches.
Seizing the microphone the little man glared at the gathering with eyes that swivelled independently. "As president of the Mayan Calendar Straw Clutchers I am thrilled to announce the imminent end of the world. We were right, you were wrong, so suck on that, sceptics."
"Wasn't it meant to be December?" shouted a journalist.
"What's a few months in an 18,000-year calendar cycle?" bellowed the little man with glee. "We're talking stone-age people here. They didn't have digital calculators, you know. We're all going to die."
"I refuse to share a stage with a doom-saying poltroon," exclaimed a Texan Baptist, rising to his enormous feet.
"Not so fast, big boy," exclaimed the swivel-eyed Mayan. "All of you have got a doomsday scenario, same as we have. Fire, brimstone, rapture, apocalyptic horses and so on. We're just the only ones prepared to put a date on it."
But the Texan had seized his chair and was advancing on the little man with obvious intent. Other divines rose to their feet, shouting. An ecclesiastical donnybrook seemed seconds away, with the journos cheering them on. The Archbishop of Canterbury squealed "No violence, please, I beg you," but no one paid him the least attention, which made him feel at home. But then just as the Texan raised the chair above his head there came a mighty crack and the roof of the convention centre split asunder.
The divines fell to their knees as one and gawped in awestruck silence. Above them lay the sweep of the cosmos in the form of a limitless multi-dimensional skittle alley. Meteorites by the billion criss-crossed the alley at dizzying speed.
And as their eyes grew used to the darkness of forever, the clerics made out a huge dim figure hunched in the heart of the cosmos, launching the meteorites arbitrarily into space like intergalactic bowling balls. And though the figure had neither ears to hear with, nor yet eyes to see with, whenever a meteorite struck a celestial body, wiping out a race of dinosaurs here, a whole planet there, a huge and eerie cackle rang through the reaches of eternity.
"Gosh," said the Archimandrite of Easter Island, reaching for an anchovy sandwich.
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The Palestinian president's recent comments on the refugee issue got a rise out of both Palestinians and Israelis. The long-forgotten prospect of peace negotiations re-entered the Israeli consciousness while Palestinians branded their leader a traitor.
Abbas was asked about his birthplace of Safed and his response included remarks to the effect that he does not claim the right to live there. The President's advisor said he was being "realistic" by making such statements. Bringing back 5.5 million Palestinian refugees is certainly not realistic.
Disappointment was felt by Palestinians that their leader made an overture to Israel without any reciprocation. Some went so far as to say Abbas is a failure.
Comments of the like, of course, prompted a little two-stepping with additional comments that what he said was a personal position and it did not mean conceding the right of return.
Political opponent Hamas completely rejects the idea of negotiation and believe that only violence will gain what Palestinians desire.
Cool reaction from Netanyahu In Israel, officials debated how serious Abbas was. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his Cabinet reacted coolly, even mistrustfully, to Abbas' remarks.
And complicating the issue with an uncharacteristic burst of honesty, Israel lately admitted killing a deputy of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Thank goodness Israeli moderates view these developments as a chance to negotiate with a person they consider a partner for peacemaking.
The world can only hope that this could at long last revive the prospect of peace in the area.
(Source: NBC News)
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Ever feel this way when you've been asked to do something that you really have no business doing, you know it may not be the best thing to do and you know that it will not promote peace and harmony, which you like best? Furthermore, the person doing the asking, is one that you hold in high esteem and one whose relationship you value immensely.
Uncomfortable? Unnecessary? Undesirable? Maybe. But not unusual.
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". . . Anyway, from the Miserable Puritan came the Restless Pioneer, and from him, the Lonely Cowboy, always riding off into the sunset, looking for something just down the trail. From this rootless, dissatisfied ancestry has come the Bisy Backson, who, like his forefathers, has never really felt at home, at peace, with this Friendly Land. Rigid, combative fanatic that he is, the tightfisted Backson is just too hard on himself, too hard on others, and too hard on the world that heroically attempts to carry on in spite of what he is doing to it . . . "
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. . .That I should feel Inside my heart This time of year While all the Televisions Newspapers And billboards Count the shopping days For me
It appears To me that I'm the only one Who doesn't see The fine and natural Attraction to what seems Part race Part obstacle course I believe
Long ago I leaned that we Celebrate this season Anniversary of the birth Of someone named Jesus
Through the years How my perception of it all Has gone awry When so much Manufactured hype And pressurized requirements Make it all seem a lie
How I wish Since it's the Time of year that Dreams can come alive That you and I See one November when Without the retail forecasting Some peace on earth Goodwill to all arrives
How can a person make one statement, such as maybe ". . . yes, we want peace. . . " then spend the remainder of their 'air' time listing the reasons that they refuse to help bring that peace about in any concrete, meaningful way?
"I say to President Abbas 'Tear up your pact with Hamas and sit down and negotiate, make peace with the Jewish state. "The Palestinian attempt to impose a settlement through the United Nations will not bring peace. It should be forcefully opposed by all those who want to see this conflict end. . . " The man promised “painful” Israeli concessions in exchange for peace but then proceeded to outline a tough negotiating stance. An aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the proposals a “declaration of war against the Palestinians.”
Unfortunately, our U.S. legislators found his hypocritical words applauseworthy. What a shame! Hopefully the world will get this man's number soon. We can only hope.
Not very 'musical' you say? What better way to promote peace than through the universal language of music. . .
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